Jasper Keran "Ruins"

[Dusty Trails]

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LtCmdr Jasper Keran
"Ruins"
Veryn Outpost – Engineering Officer
SI: Outpost Ruins / Jasper's Quarters
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The sun cast its shadows across the toppled marble pillars
that once had stood tall in the large Common Area of the Veryn
Outpost. For a moment, if you allowed yourself to be pulled from
time, it could almost seem that you were standing amongst the ruins
of an ancient Greek temple. The reality, however, was much too real
and painful to be dreamed away by the overactive imagination of a
betazoid engineer. Jasper tightly took hold of Fiona's hand and they
walked through the memories with each step they took. Being a
telepath Jasper could tell that she was as deeply in thought as he
was and could feel the lifeline that had been forged between them
over the past year surge and flow back and forth.

"There are times Fiona when you really have to wonder why you
ever got out of bed in morning but then the reality of everything
sinks in and I remind myself that I'm being silly…. We don't have
beds anymore."

A single tear began to creep down and as she wiped it away a
smile frustrated smile washed across her face. Pushing Jasper away
she actually managed a giggle.

"You jerk!" she cried sarcastically and sniffled as she
brushed the front and the back of her hands under her eyes. Fiona
then grew silent.

A large dark cloud passed over the horizon blotting out the
suns intense rays. The rustling of dead leaves and organic bits
swirled around their feet as a cold breeze seemed to pass through
them.

There was nothing more Jasper could say in that moment so
they just stood there facing the setting sun which now looked
enormous as it nestled itself into the outstretching canopy in the
distance. Jasper sensed that he should say more but as he tried to...


-=-=-=-

"The time is now 1000 hours. The time is now 1000 hours," The
computer repeated. Jasper opened his eyes and he realized he had
been dreaming… again. He was no longer with his friend. His friend
was gone -- Fiona was gone.

Reaching over he fumbled and limply searched for the console to
discontinue his wake up call. Unable to do so, Jasper slowly sat up
on his cot and the blanket slid off him and onto the floor which
revealed his wrinkled yellow uniform that he still wore from the day
before. The computer continued to repeat its message until finally
his eyes focused enough to press the right button. Having been
sleeping in a shuttle craft on the surface of Veryn's 3rd moon was
wreaking havoc on his hygiene as well as his sleep habits.

Peering out of the cockpit window he could see the storm brewing in the
distance and he shivered.

~Well I suppose I should get to work~

Throwing on a jacket he fastened his Comm badge and opened
the hatch. The wind gusted up inside and he almost had to press
against the wind to make his way out. Upon exited he keyed in his
security codes and the shuttle door locked tight. Now it was time
for him to make his way to the landing platforms where the USS Spirit
would be making it's delivery to his expedition.  Others in the lunar
encampment had erected shelters to weather the storms while the
foundations could be laid for the planets new subspace communications
relay station.  Jasper preferred his shuttle. 
 
Jasper stared down a the planet below in the direction of where the
newly re-commissioned Veryn Outpost lay on the surface but they were at
too great an orbit on the 3rd moon to make it out. 
 
~perhaps it can be seen from the 2nd moon~
 
Keeping his head down low to avoid wind gusts and flying debris from his eyes
he started forging his way towards his rendezvous with the Defiant Class USS
Spirit. 
 

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