Tour of the temples

Posted on Fri Apr 20th, 2018 @ 3:02am by Johnathen Anderson Jr & Jasper Offermans & Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson (*)

Mission: Mission 6 - Azzia
Location: Azzia
Timeline: MD 02 08:30
2342 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Taking a deep breath as Jasper stood in the lobby of the hotel he was staying at. The previous night had been eventful and he had gotten in late though he went to bed on the large round mattress alone. He was holding onto a dark cup of something the woman at the front desk had said was something like coffee. It was sweeter than he thought Coffee should be but the steam off of it was enough to bring a smile to his face. The henley he was wearing a heather brown that he had pushed the sleeves up slightly and it hung loosely over his faded jeans. He could feel the warmth of the planet even in the early morning and saw how moist the ground still was from the morning dew. Soon other's would be arriving for the archaeology tour and he was eager to get started.

Johnathen entered the lobby, dressed comfortably for the tour. He was very curious to learn more about this world and just how it came to be inside the anomaly. "Hey, Jasper! How'd you sleep?"

"Like a rock," Jasper said with a chuckle," once I got there." He took a short sip oh his hot beverage and and glanced back over at Johnathen, "I'm hoping this keeps me awake today." He drew in a breath and looked around, "I was hoping we had a larger group going on the tours."

Cassie came in as a rush thinking she was late. She was dressed in a maxi dress but she had sensible shoes on knowing better. "You left me behind?" She challenged Johnathen. She was doubled over breathing heavily very unlike her. "Gees this heat is just like Vulcan." She admitted as more people who they were not familiar with joined them.

Johnathen grinned. "I'm sorry! I thought you were right behind me." It was very apparent that the young pilot was very excited about what they were about to go do.

Cassie shook her head at the man trying to catch her breath enough to stand up straight. The human was beyond excited and she couldn't blame him but still, it was frustrating that he had just left her.

Dodian was interested in the tour of these temples if anything just to see if she could find any helpful information on how the anomaly around their system was formed. She had seen another small group form that were also heading out, they seemed to be a bit of a rowdy bunch from hearing them near her.

Most of the others seemed to know one another, save for the blonde woman in the group. Humili would be the second of the group who had no clue who anyone was, having spent most of her time in the Hydroponics Bay resetting the totalitarian control the last science chief seemed to have took up most of the Trill's time. But there she stood, arms crossed, critically gazing the others and waiting for an opportunity to speak up.

Johnathen saw the woman with her arms crossed. With a warm, friendly smile, he stepped over and extended his right hand. "Hi! I'm Johnathen. One of the Ishimura survivors. You work down in the garden, right?"

Humili gave the human a curious look. This was a member of the crew she would likely not see often, but he was attempting to socialize. She had to give him that, and there was a touch of sympathy for Jonathen's current situation. "Yes, I am, though I certainly won't take full credit, but if you're interested in a small tour when we all return, I'd be happy to show you around. I'm Humili."

Johnathen smiled. "I'd love a tour. The more I can re-familiarize myself with the Ish....sorry, the Mary Rose, the better." He was still having a hard time wrapping his brain around how much had changed since he went into the transporter.

Offerman watched Johnathen as he talked to a woman he hadn't seen before, or at least didn't think so. She didn't look Azzian thought that particular conclusion had more to do with her attire than actual knowledge. He looked at her and smiled then walked over towards the two.

"Mind introducing us Johnathen," Jasper asked. "I take it she's from the Mary Rose?"

Johnathen grinned at his friend. "Of course, Jas, and yes, yes she is." He stepped to the side tallow Jasper to move closer, as he introduced the two. "Humili, allow me to introduce you to Jasper Offerman, self-proclaimed ladies man." He grinned as he spoke, indicating that he was joking. "Has, this Is Humili..." He stopped dead, as he suddenly realised that he didn't know the woman's full name. He looked at her with a questioning look on his face.

The questioning look was mirrored in return. She would never understand the mating rituals of other species, or why a 'lady's man' would be considered ideal, symbiote or not. "Just Humili will do, thank you. Where will you find yourself working after this short vacation? Engineering? Or are you a pilot as well?"

"Just operations," Jasper offered with a smile though his words seemed to indicate some of wind had just vanished for his sails, "that's what i did before anyway."

"Smooth guys." Cassie snorted at the interaction as she moved to sit down on a bench feeling hotter than normal despite the knee length shorts she wore a light flowing shirt over a vest in a sign of respect. She knew how to be respectful but normally that involved long flowing robes.

As they spoke three Azzian women came through the the front doors into the lobby. They had on matching outfits and walked with a grace and poise not seen much even among the Azzians, almost as if they floated above the ground. The shimmering long white gowns they wore resembled the traditional dress for women only these displayed the midriff prominently revealing a belly button ring that hung down a few centimeters. Dangling from this cain was a suns dial, a dial designed for their world and the two suns that lended their light to their world. The dresses came nearly to the floor flowing gracefully as they walked and if someone was observant they would notice slits on each side going up the legs nearly to their hips. Their shoes were white matching the gowns with closed toes, a golden strap around the ankles and a tall broad heel. Each had on head jewelry, three golden chains with one coming down the center where their long hair parted and one on each side of the head with white round pearls dangling down from time to time on each like bangles. They met in the back of their heads and in the front where a large round dangle came down with two round yellow and white stones siting side by side. The chains and the filigree were all gold and ornately worked.

The woman in the front began to speak as she looked around at the group gathered in the lobby, "greetings are you all here for the temple tours?"

"I believe we are," Humili piped up, oblivious to any discouraging she had done. "I certainly am." She turned expectantly to the others, head tilting to one side. "I believe my friends here are as well."

Cassie stood up and nodded. "We are." She assured quickly shouldering her pack. It would take a few days to get used to this type of heat, it was going straight through her and nothing was helping.

Johnathen moved next to Cassie, handing her his canteen. "Want some water, sweetheart?" He was starting to worry about her. He had never seen her pressure so much in the entire time he had known her.

Cassie shook her head quickly. She was thirsty but it was sweet of him to offer her. It was just her being so used to a ship environment that was cooler than the planet they were on.

"Very good," the woman began with a nod and a smile. "I would like to introduce your guides for the expedition. This is Jobti' Badi'ga, the woman motioned to right as the other woman curtsied deeply, and this is Lopi' Gov'tera," this time motioning as the other woman curtsied deeply. "I am Fah'di Dosa'pi," this time she was the one to curtsy, "we will be touring the ruins of the temples. Jadish' ota will be the first and I will be leading this portion of the tour It is the oldest, around eight thousand years old and parts of it are still standing. This is also where you will Vulcan scientists who are excavating the site. Jobti' will be leading you through Hof'pari. The temple is over six thousand years old and portions of it are still in use. Then we will take you to the third temple, Kavti' Osi'gri where Lopi will be guiding us through the four-thousand-year-old temple and its gardens. We will be serving a traditional Azzian meal that I hope all of you enjoy." She looked around the group one more time, "the shuttle is just outside if you are all ready to go?"

Jasper had turned slightly as he heard the women enter a bit confused. He tilted his head listening to what the Azzian woman had to say and then leaned over slightly towards the woman he had just met, "didn't realize they were going to feed us."

"I don't care I am starving," Cassie commented on as she moved to Jasper and looped her arm through his tugging him out to the shuttle. "I suspect John will be freaking out about this shuttle." She said glancing back at him and winking.

There was a chuckle for Jasper as he heard Cassie and felt her grab his arm. He allowed himself to be pulled along behind as they followed closely behind their guides and trying to take another sip of his hot beverage.

"Oh." Humili perked up at the thought of a meal, the chef hidden under layers of host minds peeking through. She followed the others out to the shuttle while the others were gabbing. They seemed a pleasant bunch, which suited her well enough.

The Azzian woman nodded and turned to leave followed by the other two as they they exited onto the street. Parked not far from the door was an oval craft with rounded sleek lines. It was white with a thin silver line just beneath the windows which took up all of the top half portion that came to about waist level. Facing the side walk there was a sandy haired man dressed in a similar uniform only instead of the skirt portion he had on loose fitting trousers that drew together around his ankles and shoes that seemed a bit more sensible than the healed one his counterparts were wearing. Next to him was a open doorway with a ramp that was already resting on the pavement awaiting the groups arrival.

As Johnathen stepped outside, his eyes took in the awaiting shuttle. As a pilot, he admired smooth designs of all flight craft, and the Azzian design was no exception. He carefully moved about and around the shuttle, taking in every inch of its hull and control surfaces. "Whoa," he said admiringly to the shuttle pilot. "This is a beautiful craft you have here. Just out of curiosity, what's her top speed?"

The pilot grinned, "warp six," he said with a smile, "using Federation speed markings but there isn't a warp drive, we use the Drav' Daco planetary drive so she can travel at that speed within the lower atmosphere." He chuckled, "I wouldn't take her much higher in altitude than that." Looking at Johnathen he asked, "you wouldn't happen to be a pilot would you?"

Johnathen's eyes widened at what he heard. "Warp six! And in atmosphere?! I can't believe It! Fastest I ever went in a shuttle was full impulse, and that was in space only." He was about to start asking all kinds of technical questions when he felt Cassie and his friends move up next to him.

"Told you," Cassie said with a grin at him as she sat down next to the man. Laying her head on his shoulder regretting staying up so late.

Johnathen smiled warmly when Cassie laid her head upon his shoulder. Reaching over, he interlaced the fingers of his right hand with her left. He then gave her a tender kiss on the top of her head.

"What a ride," Jasper piped in as he caught sight if the contraption that seemed to levitate in place without the aid of supports and was absolutely quiet.

Humili crossed her arms, looking up in similar appreciation. "I'm sure the science behind it is quite fascinating. There are likely some scientists back on the Rose who would want to get their hands on the physics involved..."

"I can think of at least two," Cassie said with a small smile as she got comfortable in her seat. It wasn't her field of science but she could see the theory behind it all. Physics had never interested her when she was a child, she had always wanted to know why she existed, it had shaped her whole Starfleet career and life.

Johnathen took hold of Cassie's left hand. He was excited and looking forward to spending the day with her, as they enjoyed the hospitality of the Azzian people.

"Is everyone ready to depart for the temple ruins," Fah'di asked with a broad smile, you may want to take a window seat where you can see easily outside as we will be flying over some amazingly beautiful landscape as he approach our destination."

OFF::

Cassie McAvoy
Biologist
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)

Jasper Offerman
Operations
SS Mary Rose

Humili Planita
Hydroponics Operator
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Uhin)

Johnathen Anderson Jr
Helm Officer
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Robertson)