"Onward To Something Better"
[Continued from "Oops…"]
**********
Stardate: 61013.1400
At 1800 meters above sea level the air was crisp and thin, and the
only living things that could be seen through the clouds were the odd
birds and the odder mountain climbers precociously dangling from their ropes.
"Aki! My fingers are numb. Can we go back down before I fall down to my death?" Scott said while looking at the oriental woman above him. When he had met the Academy graduate, the enthusiastic young Ensign had immediately taken a liking to the zesty oriental girl. Her vibrant energy and love of life had entranced Scott, but had he known that she would lead him to climb Mount Fuji, the male Ensign would have never introduced himself. In fact he would have likely run as fast as he could in the other direction.
"We only have 1900 meters or so left before we reach the summit," Akira said as she secured herself on the rope before checking the altimeter attached to her wrist.
"According to my calculation, that means that it would be shorter for us to head back," Scott said having let go of the rope to put his hands in the heated pocket of his coat. He had been quick to check the height of the mountain when Akira had mentioned her intentions to him, along with the status of his life insurance.
Akira sighed. She had hoped that this would have been a fun excursion, a way for her and Scott to share something that they would fondly remember for a long time after today. It was easy to see that the day would be remembered as expected but not for the reasons Aki had hoped for. With a regretful nod of her head she motioned for Scott to start heading back down with her behind him, glad in a way that he could not see how disappointed she had been.
The two climbers had worked their way down to the 1000 meters marker when a shuttle craft appeared and hovered next to the surprised pair.
=/\= Ensign Akira Mitshiba? =/\= The voice of the pilot thundered through the loudspeakers with such force that Aki instinctively feared that an avalanche would be triggered. Aki quickly waved to the pilot to both identify herself as the person he had been looking for and to have him stop before he became too late.
**********
By the time Aki had figured out that she had been targeted by a transporter beam, the Ensign had found herself standing inside of the shuttle craft.
"Is there a problem?" Aki asked as she wondered if there had been some sort of emergency to warrant this unexpected abduction.
"Your assignment has been decided," the pilot replied as he moved the shuttle craft away from the mountain face. "I was told to find you and bring you to your transport ship."
"What about Scott?" Akira asked curious as to what would happen to the baffled looking male Ensign who had been left behind.
"Sorry Miss, my orders were to bring you to your transport, nothing more," the pilot replied not even giving the other climber a second look. "I am sure that he will be alright, you two were heading down."
**********
As badly as Akira had felt for having left her climbing companion behind hanging on the mountain like that the secrecy surrounding her first assignment to the fleet had just been more interesting to think about. Aki did her best to try and put the pieces of this puzzle together but it soon became evident that she had been missing most if not all of the key pieces to this mystery.
All that Akira had been told was that she was heading for a base known only as NEW ALEXANDRIA and that the Admiral in charge would answer all of her questions once she arrived. All that had been left to do was to patiently wait for the transport ship to reach this mysterious base. In the meantime Aki could keep herself busy by imagining the wonders that would be hers to explore, right after she took a well overdue shower.
**********
Currently unassigned and heading for NEW ALEXANDRIA 2006 post #235
Setting: EARTH, Japan, Southern face of Mount Fuji
Stardate: 61013.1430
Setting: Inside the shuttle craft
Stardate: 61013.1600
Setting: USS NILE, Guest Quarters
Dawn Bohr {serra.moon.angel@gmail.com}
Ensign Akira 'Aki' Mitshiba
