Cold and Rusty

Posted on 30 Dec 2018 @ 1:39am by Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Azra Ghoc
Edited on on 07 Jan 2019 @ 1:43pm

2,794 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Holodeck 2
Timeline: MD -163, 1830 hrs

[ON]

“Program Complete,” the computer voice stated as Tris stood outside at the control panel of Holodeck 2. “You may enter when ready.”

Tris then was concerned and considered the possibilities of others coming in while the program was running. Lt. Shizn stated, “Computer revise access restrictions. Only provide access to the program while running for myself and Warrent Officer Azra Ghoc, unless there is an emergency of course.”

The computer made a grinching noise and then replied, “Changes to program access accepted.”

Tris was quite pleased with that and turned toward the door, which opened and allowed for him to walk through. Tris stopped just a couple steps inside and looked about and relished the cold and wind that buffeted his face and hair. He stood before a frozen stream of water. Rocks and boulders covered with ice and snow were on both sides. Beyond that by 10 meters or so were trees that stretched up a hundred meters or more. The evergreens tops being tossed to and fro by the winds at that level.

Tris looked to his left and just 30 meters away was a sheet of ice, extending up, all the way up a cliff face. He estimated the height to be 200 meters or so. He was about to walk toward the frozen waterfall when he sensed the motion of someone at the door to the Holodeck. He turned his head to see Chief Ghoc.

Azra entered the room in a replicated thermal suit. It maintained a comfortable body temperature, something the Cardassian woman really needed. She hated the cold. Really, really hated the cold. The only reason she'd ever ice climbed, or even volunteered the information that she had, is that it was good exercise. It also helped that she was pretty good at it.

Tris watched pleasantly as Azra enter the holodeck and the doors closed behind her. The holographic 3D imaging engaged and the doorway disappeared. Behind her was now a dense forest frosted by falling snow. He looked closely at her attire, finding her well insulated to protect her from the cool temperatures of this setting. He, on the other hand, was dressed simply in a one piece form fitting suit with harness and utility belt full of climbing gear. This was the one place that he did not need to wear his ‘cooling suit’.

"Evening," she said, and waved to the Andorian. He was probably comfortable in this frigid wasteland. Her nose felt like it would fall off from the cold. "Where should we start?"

“Yes,” Tris replied very confidently with a smile. “That is such a great question.” He looked away to the ice sheet many meters away, pointing a finger up, but then stopped turning back to Azra. Looking more sedate then he was a moment ago, Tris looked to the Cardassian speaking with sincerity, “I’m glad you were able to be here.”

"I will be too, once I get my face warmed up," she said, and suited her words by pulling the hood over her head, as well as the accompanying face-mask. It left a small patch of skin around her eyes exposed, enough for a pair of googles, which she also lowered. Much, much better.

Now, Shizn looked again at the frozen waterfall, “Whenever I approach a natural ice flow like this one, I try to stand back and get an overall perspective and look for the best possible avenue of attack for the climb.”

Despite the mask, Azra's voice wasn't at all muffled. The wonders of modern materials and science. "If you look at the left, about a third of the way in, it looks like something carved a nice slot in the ice. It should give us a good path, at least for the last three quarters of the climb."

The issue with Azra's suggested route was that the first quarter of the climb had almost no clear holds or crevasses.

Tris turned to face her, “That is a very good observation. That was one that I was going to point out.” He turned back to face ‘the fall’, “And one third the way in from the right side is what appears to be a slick sheet, something many climbers might go for. But, if you look real close you can see frosting below the surface, which tells me that it might be hollow, which could be dangerous.”

"I wouldn't have caught that," said Azra, "I'm honestly not at all experienced at ice climbing. I'll let you take the lead. Which route should we take?"

He turned back to her again. “Some climbers like the idea of poking holes and then climbing up this thin sheet. I prefer a solid sheet, so I definitely agree with you for the point of our ascent.”

"Then let's go," Azra said and took a deep breath. The cool air still made it through her mask, but it wasn't bitingly cold like it would have been without the protection. She moved toward the sheer face. It rose several body-lengths above them before there was a good crevasse to tuck into.

Tris found her comment to be abrupt or aggressive. He watched her walk toward the ice face for a couple strides, then followed her. He was not going to judge her on a single comment. He just thought she wanted conversation and instruction prior to the ascent.

As usual, Azra checked her crampons and the picks at her belt. She tugged on the straps of her harness, as well as the carabiners attached to it. She counted twelve anchors attached at her back by touch. "Ready?" she asked, having finished her quick check of her equipment.

The Andorian had stopped and was double checking his gear as well. When she asked, he replied an encouraging, “Yes. Please proceed.” She had placed herself in front of a relatively smooth sheet of ice that lead up to a crevasse. He liked her way of thinking.

Azra took a deep breath. She was nervous, especially to be climbing with an Andorian. This was more than just a hobby for most Andorians, at least on their homeworld, it was a daily activity. She reached upward and sunk one axe into the sheet of ice, followed by the other only slightly lower. Using her arms she leveraged the claws of her crampons upward, securing them in the ice, one higher than the other.

Azra started to crawl slowly upward. She'd pull one axe free and sink it in slightly higher, then move the opposite foot. She used her arms and legs in about equal measure. Later in the climb, that would change. On this sheer, nearly featureless section, it was a combination of both upper and lower body exercise.

Tris watched Azra’s movement upward with curiosity and admiration. After she reached several meters, he admitted, “You’re doing quite well.”

Azra's arms were already starting to burn. She was fit, but ice-climbing required more than general fitness. It required peak conditioning and a lot of upper body strength. "Thanks," she said. Her voice caught a bit at the end as she grunted to sink her axe in a bit higher up.

Tris now began to climb a couple meters to her left. He was quite pleased with the ice-axe’s ability to sink sufficiently into the ice, and then release when desired. He wondered if the holodeck program was actually assisting them in the climb or just how realistic was this situation.

The Andorian climbed with two axes and the sharp spikes attached to his shoes. All was going well; climbing, connecting in his ice-cams, and securing his safety line, before moving forward. He knew he didn’t want to make this a race, so he purposely took his time to remain at least two meters below Azra during the first part of the ascent.

Azra's foot slipped, sending a cascade of ice-chips down on her climbing partner. She gasped and clung to the axes. She tried to slow her breathing and secured the loose foot with the toe-spikes. "Are you okay?" she asked. She looked down, but could only see Tris' arms and head, dusted with frozen water.

When Tris heard the slip, he looked up to receive a face full of tiny ice shards. He quickly looked down and pulled himself closer to the wall. He waited for a second before responding, “I think so.” He leaned out a touch and looked up, “I’m still here and don’t feel any injuries. Continue on,” he encouraged.

Galileo's boatswain continued climbing, carefully setting her feet each time. She finally reached the crevasse. With a bit of effort she climbed up far enough to give Tris space to wedge himself into the crack in the ice. She planted her feet against one side and her back against the other. Shaking her arms to relax some of the muscles, Azra looked down at her Andorian climbing partner. "My arms are killing me," she said, "this requires a lot more upper body than normal climbing."

Tris was right behind Azra when she entered the crevasse. He was able to move up under her, also locking his feet to the opposite site with his back against the other. “You’ve done well,” he encouraged. “Definitely work your arms until the spasms give way to the expected pain.” The Andorian too needed to flex his arms and shoulders to help the muscles relax.

"Yeah," Azra said through gritted teeth, "you would call them spasms. I have not practiced this enough. I am going to be very sore tomorrow." Finally her fingers started to work again and it was only uncomfortable to move her arms, rather than torturous. She took a deep, long breath.

"Okay, time to move forward, I guess." Azra let her axes fold and attach to her belt. They'd still be handy if she needed them, but they wouldn't be in the way. She reached for holds in the ice with her fingers, and re-positioned one of her feet. She started moving upward, much faster than she had previously gone.

It was different than regular climbing. The spiked boots forced Azra to make her own-foot holds, rather than wedging her toes into cracks or gripping small nubs of rock. Instinct warred against her knowledge of how this kind of climb really worked. She kept having to remind herself not to wedge the toe-spikes into a crack where it'd be a pain to get them out again.

Tris looked up at Azra, not able to see her face or expression. She appeared confident and ready to continue by her actions and comment. But he did see a slight hesitation on her part. Tris looked up and tried to encourage her, “Take your time. There is no rush. Feel confident in what you’re doing and not for my benefit."

"I'm fighting instincts is all," Azra called down, "this is a lot different than climbing rock." She was, bit by bit, getting into a pattern. She didn't climb as quickly or adroitly as she would have another surface, but she still ascended at a fair clip.

Tris stopped moving, pressing his spiked feet to one side and back to the other to respond, “Very true. Definitely not rock.” To encourage her further, “Understand the character of the ‘ice’, and what it represents for you. How can it’s structure help you? Now then, take advantage of that which you comprehend and use it.”

"That which I comprehend?" Azra called down at him, "Are you trying to sound ridiculous? Do all Andorians wax poetic over ice?" Her sarcastic humor had taken over, briefly, and she hoped she hadn't offended him.

Her comment brought a smile to the Andorian’s face, but he had no desire to laugh. “Only when appropriate.” After a second added, “But yes, I am the unusual Andorian.” He smiled again and encouraged, “Let’s continue.”

Tris felt he saw some improvement on her part. He continued to keep pace and follow her up the crevasse. He was feeling very good about the climb. It had not been a race. They had worked together and would, he hoped, use this as something to help bind them together during this mission on the Galileo.

---

When Azra's arm finally reached over the top of the ice-shelf, she heaved herself over and crawled about a meter away before dropping to her back. She sighed explosively, staring up at the sky.

The Andorian saw more light coming down from the light graying sky. He knew this meant that Azra was no longer above him, but he still looked up to see the last of her boot move away. He couldn’t help but smile, not for himself, but for her achievement.

Tris knew not to assume anything, but continued in his climb as before until he too reached the edge. Finding a secure hand hold on the upper surface, he pulled one leg behind him to the other side. Now with feet apart he inched up each foot a little. This positioned him for one last kick and leap to fling his body out of the crevasse and onto his side on the upper surface.

Tris Shizn laid onto his back, closing his eyes and sucked in a full lung of air. He then cried out for all to hear, “YaaaaSaseeeen !!!!”

Azra echoed him quietly, clearly still out of breath. "Yasasin," she said, "that was exhausting. It's fun and all, but I am very out of practice."

Tris turned his head to Azra, without moving his body except to take in more air. He replied, “Yes. Definitely fun, . . and I too am out of practice. Next time it’ll be rock and you can pick the location.” He smiled and bobbed his eyebrows up once to convey personally liking the idea and desiring her approval.

"I can do that," she said. She had finally caught her breath and forced herself partially upright, allowing her elbows to support her. She looked directly up at the simulated sky. "I've got to say that the view is exceptional. If only it were real."

Tris rose up on one elbow and looked across the expanse of landscape that was identical to the Andor that he knew. A lump formed in his throat. He had wanted to comment about the reality of their own lives, but he dared not speak, less he wanted Azra to know the pain in his heart for his loss.

Azra didn't notice. It was pleasantly quiet. Only the sound of wind moving across the ice. It was a faint whistling. That sound was subsumed under the crunch of snow as Azra shifted so that she was sitting.

"Thanks for suggesting this, Tris," she said, "I enjoyed it."

Her comment brought the Andorian back to the ‘here and now’. He sat up, turning to her with a smile, “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it.” He took a deep breath of cold air and let it out again before asking, “What have you learned this day?” He raised a questioning eyebrow, as his left antennae pointed more toward Azra.

"You put words together in weird ways," Azra said, and nudged the Andorian with an elbow. She thought a bit more seriously about the question, after all, there was always something to learn. "I learned that I want to visit Andoria sometime. See this sky for real. You?"

A somber expression came over the Andorian’s face, as his antennae seemed to sag off to the sides. He finally replied slowly, “Yes.” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “One day I will return home to see the blue-gray sky of Andor once again.” Tris then smiled and looked to Azra, “I hope you can go at some point in time. There’s nothing like it anywhere in the Galaxy.” His statement was made very confidently and matter of factly. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t the truth. There were many other planets with global cryospere that had similar scenery, but he would never admit it.

"Of course not," Azra said, without a hint of irony, "it's your home. There's an old Earth saying. It's something like, 'There's no place like home,' or something like that." She rolled to one knee and stood. "So, yeah, there's nothing like it." Azra extended a gloved hand to help her climbing partner to his feet.

Tris accepted the hand and looked again over the expanse of white and blue, thinking Yes. One day I will return.

[OFF]

--

CWO3 Azra Ghoc
Boatswain
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn
Helmsman
USS Galileo-A

 

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