Off On A Journey - Part III

Posted on Sat Feb 20th, 2016 @ 12:44pm by Captain Li Hawke & Jackson Banning V & Lieutenant Commander Michael Darwin & Lieutenant Commander Gilroy
Edited on on Sat Feb 20th, 2016 @ 1:17pm

Mission: Further Challenges
Location: Archadia III

* Archadia III *

When Darwin arose, Li was sitting on a large rock in the sun, coffee in hand. She had her face turned up to the light.

“Mornin’,” Darwin mumbled, pouring coffee into a mug. “Sleep well?”

“Finally, yes. Maybe it’s the exercise or the outdoor air...more likely though, it’s the lexorin. I feel blind when my telepathy is down and I think it disturbs my sleep. So, it’s lose sleep or begin to deal with my missing link. Both come with a price.”

“You can't stay on lexorin forever. That said, do you want a dose or see how it goes?” Darwin pulled out a protein bar for breakfast and offered one to Li.

“That depends. Do you mind the mental company for a while?” She took the bar and began to eat between sips of coffee.

“Not really,” he said. “Though this early, you'll mostly get thoughts about being hungry, feeling yesterday's hike and thinking ahead to today's hike. Speaking of, let's try to get started in thirty minutes.”

“I’m ready as soon as the tent is packed.” Li finished her coffee and rose to load up. “I'll make a deal with you. You take care of the tent and I will fish for dinner.”

“‘Kay.” He finished his coffee, grabbed some clothes and headed for the trees. When he came back, dressed, he packed the tent and they headed out. He set a fast pace and gave Li only a few minutes for lunch. He knew she was occasionally reading his thoughts; most of what she got was his eagerness to get to the ravine.

As they hiked, their path converged with that of a creek that moved along at a swift rate. He stopped near a large tree with a bent trunk and pulled Li forward beside him. “We’re here. Just have a few hundred feet down to go.” Below them, the ravine opened up and the creek beside them disappeared over the edge. The bottom of the ravine couldn't be seen, though the crash and roar of falling water could be heard. “There's a quick way down, but everything gets wet.”

“That’s fine for us but maybe we should lower the gear down unless you want wet blankets?” She looked over the edge, then smiled up at him. “Then you and I are going to get wet.”

He grinned. “I was kidding, though it's good to know you can be a reckless adrenaline junkie, too. Come on, there is a lower level we can jump from, though.” He turned and hopped down a few steps cut into the trail.

Li followed and once they’d attached the ropes and lowered down the packs, she turned to look at Darwin. “No sharp rocks at the bottom?”

“If you hit bottom, you'll have worries other than sharp rocks,” he laughed. “The bottom leading out to the far rocks is sort of steep. There's a ledge, then the dry ...well, drier... rock is about waist height.” He paused and looked at her next to him. “It’ll be deeper for you. Ready?”

“Let’s do it.” She took his hand and with a nod, both jumped out from the ledge and began the rapid descent. It took her breath away but the rush was the best thing she’d felt since this nightmare began. The water, when she hit it and submerged, was warmer than she expected and she was glad. Pushing off from the bottom, she broke the surface and drew in a deep breath.

Darwin whooped on the way down and was laughing when he came up. He splashed her as she treaded water. “That's fantastic.”

“I could do it again.” She laughed as well, then glided her hand over the water, dousing Darwin with a spray of droplets. “You were right….this place is perfect. And no interruptions...even better. It’s like we’re the only people in the world.”

He shook his head, shaking water from his hair. “Yeah, we could have left our commbadge up top for all the good they do use down here.” He stripped off his shirt then swam over and tossed it on the rocks. A moment later, his boots joined it, then his pants. He dove under the water and swam to the waterfall.

Li followed suit, tossing her clothes up on the rocks to begin drying. She followed Darwin to the falls and swam beneath them, letting the water pour down over her. For the moment, she felt more alive than she had in days.

Whether it was the place or Li’s emotion overspilling, Darwin did something out of character: he told hold of her in the water and kissed her.

Li’s emotions exploded, the shock waves flashing through Darwin’s mind in an instant. Before she had time to physically react, the sound of someone clearing his throat echoed down to them. She pushed back as if she’d been shocked. “Dammit.” She knew before she looked up who was there.

Darwin cursed under his breath, mimicking Li. He looked up and saw Gilroy and Jackson descending the path along one side of the ravine. He swam over and grabbed his shirt from the rock then met Li as she was coming across the lake. He handed her the shirt then went back, hauled himself out of the water and grabbed his pants. “What are you two doing here?”

“Could ask you the same thing,” Gilroy grumbled as he drew close.

Jackson looked Darwin up and down, not seeming overly happy. “Ditto. What gives Darwin?”

“Nothing,” Darwin said, a mite defensively.

Li pulled the large shirt over her head and tugged it down, then climbed from the water. She was suddenly glad it wasn’t white, though it did cling. She squeezed the water from her hair. “Gentlemen,” she greeted them.

“Ma’am,” Gilroy greeted her. “We came to check on you. Sensors showed your last position as,” he pointed up, “up there.”

“We jumped,” she said, as if that answered everything. “Then decided to enjoy the water.” Too late she realized that comment likely didn’t help.

“An’ each other?” The question slipped out before Jackson could stop it and he muttered. “Sorry, it’s just...never mind.”

“That's on me, Jackson,” Darwin said. “I'm not sure what possessed me.” He picked up Li’s pack and untied the rope from it then did his own. “You two staying for dinner?”

“It’s no one’s business,” Li snapped. “There’s a reason I’m here where I’m hard to get to. We’ll discuss this later, Dar. She looked from Gilroy to Jackson and let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, it’s not your fault. I don’t have a really firm grip on anything at the moment, and I’m coming off three days of telepathy inhibitor so things are crazy with me for a lot of reasons.”

Gilroy looked down at his feet. “I’m sorry, Li. It happened so fast and we were in the middle of a fight.... I tried to get to him, but... couldn't.”

Li nodded then drew close to Gilroy. “May I? I need to see….what happened.”

Darwin glanced at Jackson then Li. “You sure that's a good idea?”

“Li, honey, I don’t think it is,” Jackson replied. He stepped closer, taking hold of her shoulders. “I wanted ta tell ya in person but I forgot you’d know.” His hands moved up to rest on her cheeks. “There’s nothin' we coulda done, so I don’t think you seein’ it will do any good. If yer feelin’ crazy now, that absolutely won’t help.” He glanced at Darwin, giving him a ‘help me out here’ look.

“Li, think about it over the next couple of days,” Darwin said. “Gilly’s memories aren't going anywhere, other than back to the Station with him and Jackson. If you still want that memory, you can ask when we go back.”

She looked from Jackson to Darwin, then finally nodded. “Very well. I...appreciate you two coming.” She hugged Jackson fiercely. “I don’t mean to take it out on you and Gil.”

“It’s okay.” Jackson stroked her back, ignoring the fact that his clothes were getting soaked.

“I’m sorry you had to be the one there, Gil,” she murmured.

“Better me than someone else,” Gilroy said. Darwin put a hand on his shoulder, knowing that he meant he'd question whether something could have been done if anyone else had been in his place. This way, Gilroy knew what mistakes had been made.

“Really, if you two are staying for dinner, Li had better start fishing,” Darwin said. His light breakfast and rushed lunch were catching up to him.

“I need to get back to Piper and see how the recovery operation for Oz and the rest is going,” Jackson said.

“I wish I could be there,” Li said softly. “I would be, you know that. Tell Oz I….I’ll be back soon.”

Jackson nodded. “I will but you take your time. Do what you need to do.” He couldn’t help shooting a glance at Darwin.

As if to make sure Jackson’s point were driven home, Gilroy ‘playfully’ punched Darwin’s shoulder. “Be safe, Dar,” he said in a low voice then turned towards Li, “Ma’am, I'll be available when you get back if you want to talk.”

“No worries, you two. Although, there's no easy way back up that trail,” Darwin grinned.

“I will, thanks. Gil. I appreciate...everything.” She watched as they began the slow climb back up the trail. They are going to be filthy when they get home, she passed to Darwin.

“And sweaty and cursing my name,” he agreed. “I'll set up camp. Do you want the fishing gear and net or are you going to swim again?” He already had the tent in hand.

“The falls for a bit longer, then I’ll get dinner.” She peeled off Darwin’s shirt, laid it on a rock and dove back into the water. Moments later, she was standing under the waterfall once more.

Darwin did his best to ignore her.

Meanwhile, Gilroy, behind Jackson, huffed his way up the ravine path. At the top, with his shirt soaked through with sweat, he said, “Damn Darwin, always being the outdoors type.”

“An’ Li too, neither of ‘em looked like they were breathin’ heavy….well...not from the hike anyhow.” Jackson frowned. “I should shut the hell up, it’s none of my business.” He was silent for only a few seconds. “Tell me it’s not my business, Gil.”

“I don't know if it is or isn't, Jackson. They're adults, age of consent and all that. But they're our friends, too. I doubt Dar would take advantage of her and he's aware of where she is, mentally. He won't be hurt.”

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” Jackson looked back down into the ravine and, seeing Li beneath the waterfall, groaned aloud. “She’s right - craziness. She has been too long zipped up an’ livin’ like a Vulcan an’ now havin’ a reaction to losin’ her soul mate….she’s Betazoid and I suspect it’s all boilin’ back to the surface an’ about to explode.”

“There are hazards to bottling things up,” Gilroy said. He tapped his commbadge. “Anything under pressure either gives in or explodes, at some point. This is why Klingons and Vulcans don’t mix. Klingons and Betazoids... are a much better mix,” Gilroy said, smiling slightly. “They’re professionals, they’ll be fine.” He paused then clarified, “Darwin, right now, is a professional. Li is just grieving.” He tapped his commbadge to call for a transport out.

“Yeah, I suppose. I just worry about her. She’s like my kid sister, you know?” Jackson shook his head and moments later, they vanished in the transporter beam’s shimmer.

*************
Captain Li Hawke
Lt. Commander Michael Darwin
Lt. Gilroy
Jackson Banning V