Pitch Black and Shrivelled Nut Sack

Posted on Thu Dec 23rd, 2021 @ 4:10am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun

Mission: *CD*
Location: Bajor

The shuttle took several hours to travel to the darker colder regions of Bajor. Surrounded by a frozen wasteland the township of Kobuk emerged, it’s snow laden rooftops almost blending into the harsh surrounding landscape. Remal and Rhenora were two of only a handful of passengers to travel here, the rest having disembarked as the shuttle’s previous stops.

“It hasn’t changed much since last time I was here, and that was ten years ago” Rhenora mused as she looked out the window as the shuttle began its landing sequence.

“Those mountains in the distance are a pretty sight to take in, but almost everything else is white, desolate.” Why would anyone come here? He mused to himself. “What brought you here the last time?” He asked as the shuttle shook in the brisk crosswinds.

“ I had some leave, and thought I’d check on her as I hadn’t heard from her in a while. I ended up spending a week here and I don’t think my liver has forgiven me since” She chuckled at the thought and knew that such endeavours would have to be tempered this time around. There was too much at stake to lose control of the situation or their surroundings.

The shuttle swooped in lower and the pilot made an announcement. “Beginning our approach to Kobuck regional airstrip, please remain seated until we’ve docked. Current temperature outside is a balmy negative 40, crosswinds at 35. We will be docking at an internal station. Please remember to bundle up and thank you for flying with us. We hope you’ve enjoyed the journey.”

Eyes large Remal commented, “I can honestly say I’ve never been to a place this cold. I hope I brought a warm enough coat, maybe one with a thermal heater.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“ That’s part of the reason there is a large liquor intake in these parts, warms the insides. Or at least that’s the theory Pitan told me last time I was here. The houses are generally well heated, if the wood hasn’t frozen solid that is” She left the words hanging as they made their way towards the exit of the shuttle.

The first arctic blast was enough to take one’s breath away, or cause one's balls to shrivel if one was of the male gender. As it was Rhenora shrugged her coat closer to her body, trapping the body heat and preventing the wind from penetrating.

“ Yep… cold” She managed as the wind swept her words away in an icy blast.

Already shivering he added, “No shit.” Before tucking his head down and moving towards the transport hub. There they would get transportation of some kind before making the trek to Pitan’s place of residence. It was roughly 3am on touchdown and he was yet unsure of how far they would yet have to travel.

The transport hub was dark due to the late hour, few being mad enough to stay out or open so late during such weather.

“I’ll try and contact Patin… she’ll come and get us” Rhenora offered as she peered through the dark windows, trying to remain positive. “The house is a good 3km walk from here, we’d be lucky to find it in this weather”

"As reclusive as she is, you think she'll come? Especially out in this weather?" He wasn't considering the concept that this was mild weather for the people who lived here. On average they dealt with much worse, between the wind and the cold. He checked on his love and saw she was fairing pretty well in the cold, while he on the other hand had lost feeling in his fingers already. Bear that he was, the cold made him into a wimp.

“ Oh she’ll come, even if she has to walk it herself, she’ll come.” Rhenora smiled, recalling times long gone. Picking up her tricorder she sent a message to Patin on the secure channel her old friend favoured and hopefully still monitored. Almost instantly there was a reply.

“She’ll be here shortly. Now we just have to not freeze to death in the process” She smirked as she looked around the deserted village for some shelter out of the icy driving wind. She didn’t want Remal’s balls to draw up and shrivel any further.

Half an hour later an old style tractor appeared towing a rudimentary but functional sled. A small figure sat hunched over the steering wheel, barely more than a mound of warm protective clothing through which survival was maintained. The old tractor billowed white smoke from the exhaust as it lumbered through the deep snow drifts, nearly burying itself at times, only saved from an icey tomb by the expert hands of its driver.

TBC