Kicking up dirt

Posted on 09 Apr 2016 @ 7:04pm by Lieutenant JG Rael Psy.D.

2,094 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo, Deck ?, Holodeck
Timeline: MD 92, 1500 hours

ON:

It'd been a while since he had run this program and no matter how often he did it, Rheneas still found it entertaining. Especially, since the program was designed to change the perspective of this location every time it was reloaded from the start.

Wearing khaki coloured Bermuda shorts, short sleeve shirt in the same colour, an akubra and sandals, the scientist annex engineer was kneeling in what appeared to be semi-wet dirt. Brush in hand and shovel in the other, he was gingerly brushing away something from an object.

He was interrupted by the sound of the large doors separating to form a signature arch. "My apologies," the intruder said as he realized that there was a program loaded as well as an occupant inside.

"Oh by all means, grab a brush and join in," Rheneas called, beckoning with the hand that held the brush. "This is such relaxing work."

He did so! Well, almost. He took a brush. "What is it you are doing?"

"I'm digging up the skeleton of a dinosaur," Rheneas explained, "please be careful how you do this. If we damage the bones that would be devastating. This original find was a very priceless one. I'm using this program to keep my skills up to par as excavating bones is very delicate work."

"I must admit I have never done anything quite like this before," Rael confessed as he knelt down alongside Rheneas. "What do I do?"

"Carefully brush the covering layer of sand aside. Use the shovel to gently scrape away any harder layer, but be careful. Fortunately this is a holodeck so we can start anew how often as we like."

"Ah. Like this?" he gently cast the brush over one small area of dirt, kicking up a few dust particles.

"Exactly like that," Rheneas complimented, "are you sure you've not done this before?" He reached out taking Rael's hand without even a thought towards the Vulcan no-touch protocol. Turning it over he inspected his palm. "Hmm no, not like this but it looks like you've known hard labour...."

Rael did not withdraw even slightly--and his hand remained in the grasp of the other man's as he merely fixed Rheneas with a thoughtful gaze. "Do you believe so?"

"I know so," Rheneas explained, drawing his fingers lightly across the palm of his hand. "I have, here look..." He turned his own hand over and offered up his palm for inspection. "I'm an archaeologist... that's very hard work, especially with the old fashioned tools I prefer to use."

"Is that your billet aboard this ship?" he asked, expression warm.

Rheneas nodded. "Yes sir, and I'm a general engineer. I mean I haven't specialized in anything. But primarily I'm an archaeologist."

"What prompted your interest in archaeology?" Rael indicated the scenery around them. "With these tools, like this?"

"My home town and my interest in the gold rush. Digging for gold led to digging for other treasures which led to digging for ancient and then alien history." Rheneas smiled. "Just a simple case of shifting one's interest."

Rael had noticed the man had an unusual accent which was not present in his other human colleagues. "Where are you from?"

"I grew up in Ballarat, an old gold miner's town in Australia, on Earth. And you?"

"I was raised aboard a starship."

"What kind of starship?" Rheneas asked curiously, "science vessel? Medical vessel?" He sat back to look up at the Vulcan. "Surely not a Vulcan vessel...you're too expressive for that."

"Indeed not," he replied with another smile. "It was a cargo transportation vessel."

"What was your cargo?" Rheneas grinned at him. "That must have been one hell of a playground?"

"A variety of things," Rael explained as he gently brushed away some more dirt with his tool. "Food, spirits, clothing items, computer parts. I learned much."

Rheneas wagged the brush at him, accidentally spraying him with holographic dirt. "You're being evasive. Was it a fun playground?"

He blinked as he was pelted with tiny dirt flecks, but otherwise did not seem offended. "At times, yes. May I ask--what precisely is a gold rush?"

"Oh it's a term, back in the early 20th century and the late 19th century people flocked to the gold fields to start mining for gold. So to speak, they rushed to the location. Ballarat is an old miner's town and one can still visit the mines. There's also a light and sound show that tells the tale of the era, and at day time one can walk through the area and visit shops."

"It sounds like you share quite a connection to your home."

"Of course, don't you?" Rheneas arched an eyebrow at him. "I'm proud of where I come from, and the way I was raised made me choose what I do now." He gestured around. "I get to play in the big sandboxes."

"Indeed, I imagine there is great truth to the adage that one should choose a job that they are passionate about--so that it is never apparent that they are working." He arched an eyebrow right back. "Have you made any significant discoveries?"

"Nah. And I don't like to brag about them anyways. I consider every discovery significant even if others might not. I mean what's more fun than to uncover this one piece of cutlery from lord knows when, only to learn that the dynasty that used them is in fact still going strong? Or that one piece of weaponry from a long lost culture? Any find is significant and any find tells it's own story. And it's the story I'm after."

"What is your favorite story?"

"Well....." Rheneas thought for a moment. "I actually don't know, I'll have to dive into my archives and page through all of them again. So I'll have to get back to you on that." He reached up and ruffled through the Vulcan's hair in a bold move. "Sorry about the sand shower..but hey it could always be worse..."

It earned him a quick grin, that mellowed pretty fast. Rheneas reminded him of Kelan, in a lot of ways. Just as brash and bold. "Indeed, it always could. I shall, however, hold you to your word. I anticipate hearing your stories."

"All in due time," Rheneas smirked, brushing more sand away. "Have you ever been caught in a sand storm?"

"Shi'Kahr has them quite often, though I have never been outside in one."

"Well that's where it's worse than just being showered by a brush," Rheneas confided to him. "Can be fun but it's frightening too. But hey, afterwards you can go dune skiing, which is great fun."

"Yes, we are always advised to stay inside during storm warnings on Vulcan. The particles in the atmosphere can react in such a way as to produce electricity." Now Rael's curiosity was piqued. "Dune skiing?"

"Have you ever skied on snow?" Rheneas fired back, eyes sparkling.

"Never."

"Oh my...then you definitely should try that first. You're sooooo missing out! The thrill of going down hill at full speed."

"Will you teach me?"

"Sure. Now?"

"I am not currently occupied."

"Alright..." Rheneas got to the holodeck controls to change the program and suddenly they were surrounded by a slope covered in a thick layer of snow. Shivering against the sudden cold, he added a change of clothes for the both of them into the program, as well as the needed attire to go skiing. "Right so..." He continued to explain the basics of going down hill. "Most important is to keep your skis aligned and use the sticks to steer while you lean to. Like so..." He showed him, then pulled the goggles over his eyes. "Are you ready to try?"

Not even remotely. "I believe so," Rael inclined his head. His goggles were too big for his face, and made him look insect-like as he situated them over his eyes.

"Alright, use your sticks to push off, then kind of zig-zag as you go down hill. Follow my example.." Rheneas pushed off and zipped away, kicking up snow as he zig-zagged down the slope.

Uh. So Rael pushed off with his stick-thingies and then his skiis went two different ways. There's no elegant way to say this. He fell. The only problem with falling on a hill with slippery slidey-shoes on your feet was that. Uh. You just kept falling. He flailed and let out an undignified nyeeeeeep! as he sailed past Rheneas. Down, down he went.

Picking up speed, Rheneas raced after him even though there was no stopping the man until they got to the bottom. Sliding to a stop, Rheneas released his skis and ran over, kneeling at Rael's side. "Are you alright?" he asked, worry creasing his brow. Gloved hands started to pat the Vulcan's body down. "Still whole?"

"Ennghhtnnhhhh tuhhhhhh?" he blinked up. Wiggled his fingers and toes. "Ow."

"Ow? Where?"

Toe-wiggle. "Nnynghn," came Rael's non-answer. He slowwwwwly got himself into a seated position, and tugged off his goggles. "That was illuminating." He was grinning, a green flush on his cheeks.

"And very amusing," Rheneas grinned back, while pulling off Rael's boot. Pulling off his gloves, he slid down his hands past each foot in turn, paying special attention to his toes. "Are you sure you're in one piece?"

More wiggling. "I believe so," he nodded.

"Good." He pushed the boot back on, then crouched beside the fallen Vulcan. "Perhaps we should start at a more shallow incline," he apologized as he offered him a hand up. "I'm no expert either..."

"I appear to fall substantially under the criteria for expert," Rael agreed.

"Well more's the fun then," Rheneas laughed. "More shallow slope it is for now then, while we run you through starting, braking and getting up when you fall."

He tried to help himself get to his feet and nearly fell over again. He fell right into Rheneas. Yoops! He steadied himself with two hands on the other man's shoulders and stepped back. "My apologies."

"For what?" Rheneas reached out to steady the man. "Snow's not really for you huh? Though...." He stooped and picked up a loose ball of snow and then tossed it. The ball fell apart even before it struck the poor Vulcan square in the face.

Rael spluttered at the snow, waving his hands comically even as it disintegrated all over him. Stupid snow! He got a glint in his eyes though as he knelt and gathered up a good handful of the stuff. He flung it at Rheneas with a smile.

"Hey!" Rheneas shuddered as snow slid down his collar, "oooh that's cold!" But he was going to have his revenge. He scooped up a handful of snow and flung it back at the Vulcan. "Take that!" he called, in rapid succession throwing a second and third handful.

He blinked against the onslaught, shaking his head rather like a wet cat. "Nyahh!" he squawked indignantly as snow trailed under his shirt and touched his skin. "I disagree with this!"

Rheneas chuckled. "Course you do, that's the whole idea...don't get snow thrown at you, or throw back faster," he challenged, still laughing.

"This seems most illogical." He quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh it only seems?" Rheneas stooped to pick up more snow. "Isn't fun illogical to begin with? Though....you could see it as tactical training of sorts. Get your opponent before he gets you."

"As a Vulcan, I must assure you that I never have fun."

"So you say," Rheneas countered, "you're not telling me that a snowball fight isn't fun.."

"Fun is illogical and therefore contrary to the Vulcan way." He was smiling, though, so he couldn't have been all Vulcan.

"And yet I don't believe you," Rheneas challenged, "so...are you going to counter?" He squished the handful of snow into a nice ball, raising his arm in a threat to throw it.

He ran and hid behind the nearest obstacle!

The Human rolled his eyes as he laughed. "Wuss," he called, running after him, his feet skidding in the snow.

"Takes one to know one!" he shouted from behind a large pillar, very maturely.

"Ahh but I'm the one here out in the open," Rheneas grinned.

"Mere technicalities!"

"So why aren't you throwing back?"

OFF:

PO2 Rheneas Malachy
Archaeologist/Engineer
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion

Lieutenant j.g. Rael
Asst. Chief Counsellor

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