Water Water Everywhere, pt 2.

Posted on Sun Jan 30th, 2022 @ 12:58pm by Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis Dr & Lieutenant Seth Travis

Mission: Respite
Location: Planet Mizu
Timeline: Respite

The day broke through the view screen of the runabout. The brilliant blue of the sky woke Shon who managed to untwine herself from her lover and begin to make a drink. She opened the shuttle door and stepped out into a world changed once again by the amount of water that had fallen during the night. The sound of falling water had increased to a roar so loud that it made thinking difficult. She walked out naked to the escarpment and was surprised to see that the level of the lake that had looked so far away the night before had crept up to the base of the cliff. Anxious to be off she went back to the runabout.

Seth had stirred and risen to find Shon gone, Getting up he saw the open hatchway and moved to it where he saw Shon standing outside admiring the view. "Good morning beautiful" He greeted her. "How about you come back inside and we'll have breakfast?"

“Sorry Seth I was going to surprise you with breakfast but got taken up with the view. I hope you slept well, I certainly did after we….” She smiled, walked back to him and kissed him.


He returned her kiss happily. "I like the new uniform." He teased. Taking in her beauty. "I think you should make it mandatory while we're here."

She looked at his hard toned body. “Then this might truly be the garden of Eden and I think I already see the serpent.” She smiled wickedly and sighed, “however my love we only have two days left and I do so want to find out where that sound is coming from. The surface of that lake below us has travelled at least 300 meters since last night so the increase in water surface is remarkable.

"That is remarkable." He admitted "And I'd like to find out where the sound is coming from as well. Why can't you do it naked?" He asked.

“Seth Travis if you do not get dressed this instant we will not be going anywhere but back inside.”

He chuckled and kissed her nose. "Yes ma'am message received and understood." He finished with a broad grin.

Following a quick breakfast she dressed, packed her pack with her field aid kit, sleeping bag, tent, palm beacon, food, communicator and other needed items. She made sure the runabout was secure and waited for Seth.

Seth was dressed, had his phaser and communicator along with his sleeping bag. He smiled at her. "Ready when you are Shon. Lets see what we can see."

There really was no need to use mechanical means to discern which way to go, just following the roar of the water made it easy enough. They walked through the trees as they became gradually thicker, the birdsong had stopped and there seemed to be a melancholy air over the area. “It is not far now” she breathed heavily as there began to be what looked like the rocky remains of a large volcanic eruption. They made their way over the rocks until they could no longer hear each other for the sound of water. She stopped suddenly, as not more that a metre away the rocks fell suddenly away. A rain swollen river disappeared vertically away in front of them.

Seth followed in Shon's steps as his eyes were taking in every detail of their journey. Their trip had started easily enough but had grown harder as they crossed rocky patches of ground to get to their destination. When Shon stopped suddenly, his hand shot forward to grab her shoulder as they both stared at the swollen river before them.

Shon gasped and looked over the edge, she could not see the bottom but judging by the mist rising it must have been at least several hundred meters below. “It is beautiful” she shouted to him, “we must find a way down but how?”

"Look for a ledge or maybe a path down to the bottom." Seth suggested. His eyes already looking for possible ways down.

“Look,” she shouted, about a metre down there is a ledge and from there possibly an animal track down, do you think we could make it?we could hold on to the overhanging trees.”

Seth looked around before replying. "I think we can as long as we go slow and watch our steps. I'm willing to try it Shon."

He was so near her, she could feel him and his heat behind her. she turned and kissed him passionately. “I love you.” She made sure her pack was secure and balanced on her back then turned and grabbed a hold or a rock that overhung the water just above the ledge. She took deep breath and stepped down. Almost immediately she hit the ledge easy as she was over six feet tall. She moved to the left finding the steep track and moved over.
“YOUR TURN SETH” she shouted.

He nodded and took a breath and followed her steps, as he took a step and instantly fell to her location on the ledge, "Whew. what's next?" He asked.

“There do seem to be steps amongst the scrub, follow my lead.” She grabbed a handful of the thigh branches to her left and began to step slowly down, almost immediately she slipped but holding on to the branch saved her. She made her way slowly down stopping and looking up to make sure he was stepping in the right place.

Seth moved slowly and carefully as he followed Shon down the rocky ledge. It was slow going but they made steady progress as they moved ever downward.

By the time they had been going an hour she was wet with sweat, her pack was slipping and she was beginning to tire. She looked down and saw the trees opening out into a clearing. She stepped down into it. It took her breath away, the falling water was contained within a natural caldera several hundred meters wide before falling away again over the side presumably continuing on its way to the lake. She waited for him to join her, the deep water was green and clear. She took out her tricorder and scanned for any creatures that might be detrimental to their safety and found nothing in the water that was harmful.

Seth like Shon was soaking wet with sweat as they made their way closer to the pool. They were extra careful as the rocks were slick with water and one wrong step could spell disaster.

She closed her tricorder, “there are no creatures or fish, the water is pure cold and deep, I think so long as we stay away from the edge where the water tumbles. I am going in, please love stay here if you want. I am an excellent swimmer as you know.”
She put her pack down and took her clothes off. Standing at the edge of the pool she felt the cool air from the downdraft of the waterfall. Adventure, this was what she loved in life, what she joined StarFleet for. She dived in feeling the bone aching cold of the clear water shock. She swam down to the bottom her long hair flowing out behind her. It seemed to be just a deep rock bowl, almost perfect. She swam to where the water fell from the fall, it held her down and she sat there for a few minutes without having to move to keep herself under. She felt so very free and so much alive.

Seth watched as Shon dived into the lake. He continued to wait for her to surface. After a minute or so he grew concerned as Shon hadn't surfaced. "Oh the hell with this!" He mumbled to himself as he stripped himself of his clothes and dived into the lake. The coldness of the water almost made him expel his breath as looked about for her.

She felt the shockwave of his dive, as much as she did not want to move she knew he was worried about her. She turned onto her abdomen and crawled out from under the pressure of the water and kicked herself up to him. She still had plenty of breath left but pulled him up to the surface. “Seth, are you all right?”

He nodded, "Yes, I was worried about you when you didn't surface. Where did you go?"

“I was sitting on the bottom under the flow. I am sorry I did not think, I was carried away by the joy I felt. Do you want to get out?”

He shook his head, "No, I want to be with you Shon."

She laughed out loud getting a mouthful of water. “You are shivering…….Oh Surak!…….don’t make a noise, or move, or breathe just turn around slowly.” An enormous brown beast was nosing around their backpacks. It looked very much like a grizzly bear from Earth, that was if grizzly bears had two heads and wings, with wicked looking fangs. “Damn I left my phaser on my pack” she said.

Seth did as Shon said, the tone of her voice made it clear she wasn't joking. When he did his eyes went wide at the sight he was seeing. " It can have our backpacks if it just leaves." He whispered.

It continued to nose around and then looked up as though it had smelt them. Then she realised it could probably hear them, it had huge bat like ears that were now pointed towards them. “I think we should move to the other side of the pool and hope it cannot swim. I think maybe the backdraft from the waterfall will not allow it to fly directly over.” It had found their rations and was noisily tearing into them.

"I think that is an excellent idea Shon." Seth whispered as the pair slowly drifted/swam to the other side of the pool, their eyes on the huge creature tearing into their rations.

‘As you humans say, ‘shit,’ look.” She pointed to where another beast came crashing through the undergrowth. This one looked the same but it was three times bigger. The beasts looked at each other, then the larger one roared opened its huge jaws and shot something from inside its maw. The other beast fell to its knees pawing at its eyes. “What is the betting that is some kind of toxic fluid.” The larger beast threw itself onto the wounded one and ripped its throat out. Blood pumped from the beast as the other one picked it up shook it and threw it from the cliff. Without a glance at the pair in the pool it roared and pushed its way back through the undergrowth and disappeared.

Seth looked at the larger beast and how quickly it made short work of it's smaller kin. "Mother of God. look at the size of that thing!" He whispered to Shon as it disappeared back into the underbrush from where it had come.

“Well that is my day ruined” she said laughing shakily. “Come on let’s get out of here.” She swam back to the other side of the pool and easily jumped out. She went to her pack, thankfully her phaser was still there. She toweled herself off and quickly dressed. The food in her backpack was completely spoiled although the energy bars were still covered. She opened one and quickly ate it handing one to Seth. Are you all right right my love?”

Seth swam behind Shon and like her quickly toweled off and dressed. He had been quiet the entire time. He accepted the energy bar and looked at Shon before biting into it. " Alright? Yes, I'm alright Shon after being scared half to death by that creature. I don't even know how to classify it."

She stood looking at the path through the scrub and trees that the beast had left. “Sometimes I fear the two legged variety of monster, they can choose what they want to be.” She thought for a moment of T’Vall. Then…the moment was gone. This time she clipped her phaser to her belt. “What do you want to do, press on down to the lake or return to the shuttle?”

"Are you kidding Shon? We go to the lake that's what we started this little journey for. So let's get a move on and get going."

“Right answer Lieutenant Travis, take a gold star for being teachers pet.” She shouldered her pack and gave a last longing look at the pool. Phaser now on hip she began the slow climb down looking for foot and handholds. It was getting a little easier the further down they went. The track eventually led them under the waterfall. “Careful Seth the rocks are slippery here. She disappeared under the fall.

"That's me. Always with the right answer to dazzle and impress the teacher." Seth bantered as he followed in Shon’s wake. He watched her disappear under the fall and as he prepared to follow he muttered to himself, "What have you gotten yourself into Seth?" Then he was under the fall.

They were inside a cave under the fall, it was quite dry and Dex was squatting down looking at something. She turned to Seth, “look at this?” She had found a small what looked to be clay pot beautifully decorated with with a picture of the beast that they had just encountered. “This is wonderful!” She breathed. This proves that this land was once inhabited, I wonder if this beast was reveared in some way.” She handed it to Seth.

"It is beautiful to be sure." Seth admitted "Or maybe that creature we saw destroyed whatever civilization that was here and the people as well."

“Now that is a scary thought.” She said picking the pot up and wrapping it and placing it into her pack.” She turned to him, “I’m afraid you have scared me, you’ll need to hold me for a few minutes.”

I'm sorry Shon. I didn't mean to scare you." Seth answered even as his arms came up to encircle Shon in a hug.

“It was just an excuse really to get you closer to me” she admitted. I love you.”

"Why you tricky woman. I love you too," Seth said as he held her tighter.

She kissed him and sighed, “as much as I love hiding in caves with you I suppose we should go on. We will need to find another campsite for tonight and I would prefer it to be somewhere guard-able. Of course I could always recall the runabout, which I had planned to do anyway as we are never going to make it back in time, but we have one more night and I wanted it to be outside, looking up at the stars as we make love…if of course you wanted to, fine blow to my conceit if you did not?”

" Do you hear me complaining Shon? I think your idea is perfectly romantic and I am all for it, Spending a night under the stars making love to you. Who could ask for anything more?" Seth countered.

“I do not know how I got so lucky that night in the observation lounge.” She paused for a moment. “Right let’s press on, the ground is getting better but we should be on guard because our scans did not show those creatures, so there might be more, or even worse ones. She shoulder her pack again and began to move across the cave floor back outside and down the track.

"My sweet Shon, it is I who am the lucky one." Seth answered softly almost a whisper. "Lead on and I will follow and keep a lookout for those and any other creatures."

They carried on down with no further mishap until the waterfall began to empty into a small estuary and then into the lake. The lake was bordered by tall grasslands that seemed to go on to the horizon. Shon scanned the area for any more of the beasts but there were none. “I think they live up in that forest and do not come down here. My scans show a huge Volcanic eruption that must have occurred several thousand years ago..it must have been an extinction event because so far we have seen no humans or any other animals. Plenty of avians around the lake though. Sorry Seth I love this sort of thing. Now where shall we camp?”

"Never apologize for what you love Shon." Seth answered. "I hope you are right about those beasts don't want them interrupting our evening. That would just be rude." He teased.

She laughed, rude indeed or maybe it would mean we had some meat for dinner, we will have to share one lot of rations.” She completed her scan, “there appears to be a sandy beach about half a kilometre from here, I think it might be the perfect place. She shouldered her pack once again checking her phaser was still on her hip, she would not be caught out again, and held out her hand for him to take.

He took her hand in his, "A sandy beach is perfect Shon. Let's get to it so we can set up camp and spend the rest of the evening relaxing under the stars."

The beach was a stunning curve of fine white sand flowing into a crystal clear lake, the sun was still high but not too hot and there was a slight breeze. She put her pack down and took her boots off. Scanning the lake she decided that it was clear of threats and disrobed. She stood naked at the edge of the water and looked back at him. “I cannot wait to get this sweat and grime off me. She smiled and walked into the water.

He admired and loved her and her form. He wished he could keep her naked just so he could admire and love her. "Heard that." He replied as he began to disrobe as well, all the while keeping eyes peeled for any threats and one hand on his phaser.

The water was clear welcoming and cool, not as frigid as the waterfall pool. She waited for him to join her. She didn't have long to wait as he dove in and swam out to her. “Now this is much better." He admitted.

She began to swim out further into the clear blue water diving down to look at the bottom. There did not seem to be anything living only the white sand continuing from the beach. As she swam she noted there seemed to be a sudden drop off ahead of her. She swam to the surface to get some air.

Seth was treading water when Shon resurfaced. "So what did you find?" He asked as he swam over to her.

“Nothing, there is no sign of aquatic life. There is deep drop off about 20 yards from here, very dark cannot see the bottom. I’m going to explore it a little ways then we’ll set up camp and have dinner, okay with you?” She kissed him.

He returned her kiss, "No, not really but I'm not going to stop you. Just be careful please."

She nodded and dove down again. She swam close to the edge of the drop off watching for signs of anything untoward, her ears taking in the changes of pressure in the water. Slipping over the edge she felt the cold water take over. The sides were smooth, too smooth really to have been made by nature. She swam down for 4 meters when she thought she saw some kind of light far down below . Then she felt a change in water pressure as though something was coming towards her, she flattened back against the wall totally still as something long and large flashed passed her. She kicked up as soon as she thought it was safe to do so and broke the surface. She motioned Seth to get out of the water as she swam towards him catching up. “There is something down there, very large and long. I think we should get out, no need to push our luck again today.” She walked out onto the sand feeling the warmth drying her. “I would love to come back with the proper equipment and dive further down.”

Seth scrambled out of the water and then turned to help Shon out. Once she was out he grabbed his phaser. "Geezus! We're on a world full of predators and I have no desire for us to become a meal for them." He replied, his phaser pointed out towards the lake.

She laughed, “personally I find it exhilarating. I think it is purely a water based creature but, if you would rather we recalled the runabout we can?”

"Being eaten is not exhilarating Shon and I'm no chicken, jusy not going to take chances pushing our luck and no you don't need to recall the shuttle." Seth replied.

She dressed and busied herself moving the sleeping bags above the beach and brought out the rations they had left. Making sure she had her phaser and her bio sensor. “Doesn’t doing things like this make you feel alive Seth? In fact I may go in again with my palm beacon and take some samples of the deep water.”

"I'm all for living and experiencing new things Shon but not at the risk of getting killed. If you are going back into the lake, I'm going with you." Seth said firmly.

“Why Seth, what could you do if something decided to eat me? I would only be worried about you also. If you really don’t want me to go I will stay on land.’ She paused. “Well if you get a fire going we can get warm. Tomorrow we go back to the ship and who knows when we will get the chance to do this again.

"I'd make it regret it's decision. That's what I can do Shon. I don't understand this reckless need to put yourself at risk." Seth replied as he got to work on getting a fire going for them.

They sat round the fire as it began to get dark and the stars began to come out. They ate their rations and made a hot drink, they sat apart however on silence. Shon laid back and looked at the stars, warming her bare feet by the fire. “The stars are so beautiful, I wish we had more time here, I would be happy doing just this. “She leant over to him and kissed him. “You would have made a wonderful knight in shining armour.”

Seth didn't say anything for several seconds then he turned and looked at Shon. His eyes showing the love he had for her. "You would be my Queen, who I would defend with my last breath." He whispered as he returned her kiss. "I wish we had more time as well but we don't so let's make the most of the time we have left."

She looked at the stars reflected in his eyes and knew this was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She kissed his face again and again as her eyes slowly turned silver. “I want to spend the rest of my existence with you, body and soul my love."

Seth brought her to him as his arms encircled her and held Shon to him. He returned her kisses with passion before he broke the kisses and told her, "We are united Shon, are souls are bonded together and nothing can change that."

‘Make love to me, here under the stars my knight in shining armour.”

"My Queen, your wish is my command." He whispered as he kissed her passionately before moving to fulfill her request.

Hours later they lay entwined watching the stars gradually fade into the dawn. With a sigh she pressed the recall on the shuttle, dressed and restored the dying fire. The air was decidedly chilly with a hint of yet more rain in the air.

Seth slowly got up, He dressed and gathered their gear. He didn't want their trip to end. He had enjoyed this immensely and he hoped Shon had as well. He walked over to her, "Shon, if you want to see if you can get a picture of the underwater creature you sensed you can."

She smiled, “no I think I will leave it, I do not want to put you in danger. I have decided to get help for this when we get back to the ship.” She looked up to see the runabout landing a few hundred years away and sighed. “There must be so much more to discover on this planet, I wish we had more time.”

"Alright Shon. Just thought I would offer." Seth replied as he gathered some of their gear and began walking towards the shuttle. "You know." He said looking back at her, We can do a mapping of the planet, see if we can spot any more odd details.”

She kicked the fire out and picked up the rest of her gear. “You think we have time?”

He smiled at her, "Shon, we have the time.”

She rushed back for one last paddle in the clear water and stepped into the runabout. Their gear stowed she sat in the pilots seat. “You know I forgot to ask if you can fly, if so you might want take the controls?” She said looking at him apologetically.

"My dear Shon, I am an excellent pilot. Let take the controls and you do the mapping of the planet. I suggest we do it grid by grid."

She gave up the pilots seat and took the nav seat. “I’d like to begin by the rock formation we saw those beasts on.” She set up a 20km by 20km grid square latitude dependant mantle and began to record the base map data. Producing a series of grids recording the distributions of all the mapped landforms across the scanned area. “This is really interesting, something for me to research when we get home.”

Seth slid into the pilot's seat as Shon spoke. "You got it Shon." He replied as he lifted the runabout off the ground, spun it neatly on it's axis and headed back the rock formation.

“The rock formation is full of a deep system of caves, what’s the betting that is where out two headed beasts live, now if only I could get a holopicture of them then someone would believe us.” She laughed with excitement.

Seth was already at work he was taking scans of the caves. "Shon the caves are wide enough and high enough for me to take the runabout in about 300 meters than they narrow. So if the creatures are in that area, you can get your picture."

She looked at him her eyes shining, she nodded “but I thought you did not want to court danger?”

He smiled at her, "For you there is no danger I wouldn't court." he answered as he brought the runabout to the cave entrance. "Get the camera ready and I'll go slow." He announced as he slowly nosed the runabout into the cave. It's lights automatically snapping on.

She prepped the external holo-imager on the bow of the runabout and scanned for life signs. “There seems to be something about 200 meters ahead, more than one, possibly a family group?”

"Let's go find out." Seth remarked and the runabout edged deeper into the cave. Shon had to admit he was an excellent pilot as the margin for error was getting closer. They could no longer see the exit. “We should be near soon but I am not sure how they will react to the light and noise.”…….”LOOK THERE” she exclaimed and pointed, she manoeuvred the camera. It looks like two youngsters lying there in those twigs.” The two small creatures about the size of a large dog lay sleeping, identical copies of their parents. she began the program that would follow the movements if there were any. “I wonder what identifies them as male or female?” She said. “What I would not give to get out and examine them.”

Seth moved the runabout slowly but confidently deeper into the cave. He stopped when Shon called out. "Get your pictures and lets go. I don't want us to be here when Mommy and Daddy come back."

“Erm Seth, Mommy is already here, look straight ahead.” They looked straight into the waking eyes of a huge shaggy looking beast, obviously the mother as she was feeding the others. Both heads yawned and her huge ears rotated towards the runabout. However she showed no signs of aggression. Shon continued activating the camera. “How are we going to do this?” She whispered.

"That's one big momma." Seth whispered as he stared at the creature. He looked at Shon. "Activate your camera and take your pictures I won't move us any closer. I already have the course back out plotted into the computer."

“I am ready to leave, I do not want Dad coming in behind us and the Mom is now trying to stand, let’s get out of here Seth.”

"You got it sweetie." Seth replied as he slowly navigated the runabout towards open space.

The mother stood and lumbered slowly after them her nose nearly touching the prow of the runabout and two large tongues licking the surface as though testing for tastiness. “When we get out let us just get back to the ship, unless there is anything g else you want…..” there was a loud roar coming from the mom now as she was recognising the runabout as a threat. Shon sat down and did not say anything, she knew Seth needed concentration and her mouth was very, very dry.

Seth ignored the roar and kept his concentration on getting them out of the cave, It was slow going as he didn't want to make any sudden moves with the runabout that would anger momma beast. The female beast was now attempting to open her wings and beat the air. Shon could feel the force of the beats disturbing the balance of air in the cave. She was going to ask him if it made any difference but then she knew they would know if it did. The beast’s tone changed as though she was calling, more like a bellow. She put her hand on Seth’s thigh seeking the reassuring contact of his body.

Seth ignored the howl and concentrated on getting them out of the cave. He felt Shon's hand on his thigh but for now resisted looking at her. He just wanted to get them out.

She could hardly watch but resisted closing her eyes, she had wanted to do this but felt helpless. It felt as though they had been inside the cave forever, surely they must nearly be out!

Seth continued his slow withdrawal from the cave even as the beast continued to howl. Then open air greeted them and the runabout was free of the cave! "We're out Shon" He said.

The light was blinding for a moment and as they hovered the male beast appeared from the rocks around the cave, the two beasts met and the female bent to greet him, he immediately mounted her and rocked the shuttle with his roar of supremacy. “Great flying Seth, thank you.” She took a few more holo pics of the couple, “for our own album” she said and laughed. “Home?”she asked.

"Home." Seth agreed and turned the runabout towards the open sky above them.