(( South Bewa Mountainrange - Morta ))
D’tin blinked off the beam down sequence for what was likely the hundredth time. The sequence ending in darkness didn’t do her any favors in the eye-focusing department. She couldn’t make out anything but brown and grey around her, but maybe that was all that existed here.
They were at some kind of rest stop. A shell of grey held what seemed to be restrooms and an additional shaded area for anyone who happened to be on this journey. D’tin stood outside the structure and looked around. The muddled neutral tones that made up the world around her spanned everything below the horizon.
The stars scattered overhead, diffused to strange, barely-off colors by the swirling atmosphere of Morta. As winds passed over each twinkling light, their shades almost imperceptibly shifted and danced.
She couldn’t spot a single drip of green. She sank slightly. The rest of the world felt a little more dim without green.
K'Wara: All right! ::claps:: Our destination is the mountaintop! ::rummages through their supplies and produces electric torches and a single phaser:: Here, one torch for you. Torch and phaser for me.
D’tin wasn’t entirely sure why they needed a phaser, but she was happy Tamio was carrying it. She took her light and calibrated it to be dim enough that she could still make out the glitter above them.
Breys: Thank you! It’s hard to make out any details, especially further into the range. We’re going to the mountaintop? What gave you the idea to go hiking at night anyway?
K'Wara: I went to the Geological Reserve in the City with Doctor Jaran and Doctor Ikaixar a week or so ago. They had an exhibit called The Sun's Ascent', which was going to the peak of the mountain. We didn't go, 'cause we went in the middle of the day and it was scalding, but I thought to myself-
There was a small pause as Tamio attempted to find the right words. D’tin attempted to help fill the thought.
Breys: That a peak must be the perfect place to watch the sun rise?
K'Wara: Exactly! ::grins:: And who better to bring along than you, dear Ensign, before you turn into a Hydroponics-mole whose only source of D-vitamin are those horrid sunlamps?
D’tin ignored the actual message of the statement and focused on the lamps. She started walking along the trail with her light pointed toward the dirt and stone.
Breys: I like the lamps! Besides, they’re more than good enough for the plants.
She paused, having realized she may have misgauged the relative importance of each portion of the sentence.
Breys: But thank you, if the stars are any kind of indicator, I’m sure the sunrise will be beautiful.
K’Wara: Response
The moon hung over them, a shining tan like an illuminated egg with veins of life carved into it by millennia of wear. It made the lights only barely necessary. Breys could make out the edges of dozens of mountains lit against the sparkle of the night sky.
Breys: Gas giants aren’t known to support life often, the fact that anyone even knows how beautiful it is here is a miracle.
K’Wara: Response
The Ensign paused and got lost in the milk of stars above them.
Breys: I wonder if it would be worth it to take this kind of breathing apparatus to other planets, just to see a sky no one else would make the effort to. I’m sure your first thought as Chief of Ops is how much of a waste that would be.
K’Wara: Response
Breys: I don’t know. ::laughs:: Maybe we could ask Jovenan for help picking the right planet. I just feel like somewhere out there has to be worth that effort.
K’Wara: Response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign D’tin Breys
Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240301DB4