Rhythm of the Rain

Posted on Sat Nov 7th, 2020 @ 3:45pm by Commander Temperance Zachary & Lieutenant Commander Cor Cordale

Mission: Episode 04: "Tempest"
Location: Planet side
Timeline: Day 1 at 0000

With Zerin and Horis still searching the area surrounding the obelisk, Temperance had retreated back to the initial entry, or at least, as close to it as she could get. The rain outside was thundering down, the sound of the droplets hitting the roof made for a constant background noise and the water was streaming through the entry way, causing a slick of water on the ground around them.

Sitting on a half wall, watching the rain through the doorway, listening to the wind howl outside, Temperance remained deep in thought, unaware of the footsteps behind her.

"A slip for your thoughts?" came the voice behind her, and the cobalt-blue furred Thux came over and stood beside her. "You know, dark stone, damp air, a lotta this is familiar." he started, "But I love the sound of rain. It's such a rare sound in our line of work." he said, now with a smile showing on his features.

Temperance smiled slightly and motioned to the wall next to her, offering him a seat. "It's not something you hear a lot in space," she said quietly. "Ever noticed that holodeck programs rarely encompass the rain? Lots of blue skies and perfect weather." She paused momentarily. "This is more like a monsoon," She motioned to the open entryway. "The way the trees bend and the way the rain is pounding, this is monsoonal rain. Very few places now still have this kind of weather. Everyone has weathernet systems to make their perfect environments."

He offered a smirk, "I've got a few personal holodeck runs. One or two of them is raining." he admitted. "And, if I have trouble sleeping, I have the computer play rain. Sometimes when it's really hard to sleep, I ask for a torrential downpour, with thunder and all." he said taking a spot next to her. Watching someone with a tail sit was a bit amusing, but he managed. Had it his whole life.

"But folks like perfection. They want their fantasies to have rolling hills, clear water, and drinks with little umbrellas. Folks don't think of rain when they think'a paradise." he commented, "But I love the rain. Nevah heard it until I got outta the mines."

His presence was reassuring. "We'll need to watch this carefully," she said quietly. "Did you happen to pay any attention to our geographical layout when we were walking down here?"

He thought for a moment, and then shook his head, "Aside from their poor load bearing structures?" he chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck in that awkward Yeah-That-Happened kinda posture. "Lots of trees, like a jungle really. Thick air, muggy as f... hell."

Temperance nodded slightly. "The atmosphere is humid and tropical so it lends itself easily to monsoonal type storms. We walked down into a valley, surrounded by ranges. Where do you think the runoff from those ranges is going to go?" she asked softly, deliberately keeping her voice low.

"Not to a building built in said valley, I'd hope." Cordale said in a same hush. "Otherwise, this structure is older than the weather." he smirked. Then the smirk faded, "But believe me, I get the drift. This place is going to become a floodplain. I mean, unless this ancient obelisk is connected to an ancient weather dominator." he chuckled.

"Well, lets hope the rain eases soon, before we find ourselves having to swim." She cast a glance toward him and grinned. "I'm not sure swimming lessons would have been high on the priority list for Thux miners?"

"Oh they were. Olympic class, gold medal." he chuckled, "Actually, I learned at the Academy. At night." he paused, before continuing. "I was, well, I was embarrassed that I couldn't swim so, I learned at night. I'm not terrible, as long as I'm moving. Staying in place is a tricky part." he said, idly flicking away some little pebble at his feet with his prosthetic limb.

"Can't imagine why." he said with a smirk.

"You know, you surprise me all the time," she said with a smile before looking back toward the entry way as the wind suddenly changed direction, cold air blowing around them suddenly. She shivered slightly as the rain started coming through the entry way toward them. "How many other buildings or shelters do you think around this area?" she asked, looking back toward Cor.

He offered her a smile. "I'm fulla surprises. As for buildings, I dunno. Want me to go out there and check?" he paused, then gave a shiver, "Wallet sharks, that's a chill!" he scurried slightly back away from the opening. "So yeah, might need to set up a heat source, or a fire or something."

"If we're hiding from the weather in here, it would be logical that anyone else in the vicinity would be hiding from the weather too, right?" Temperance asked, another shiver running through her at the wind. "Tell me, Mister Cordale, are Thux water resistant?"

"I mean, stands tah reason. We can't be the only building in town. I mean, unless the other buildings flooded away, right?" he offered, hardly a consolation. "Water resistant? I mean yeah, except for the ole Series Seven here. But, it doesn't rust, so I guess it's water resistant too." he paused, "Lemme guess, go scout the area then come back, and try not to shake water everywhere when you come back?"

Temperance smiled as she slid off the wall she was sitting on. "Rule number one of an away team, no one goes off alone. Give me a minute to let Zerin and Horis know where we're going and grab my tricorder and I'll be back. We can do a quick check of the surrounding area. Maybe one of the buildings will offer a bit more protection than this," she motioned to the crumbling walls around them.

"Ha, here I thought Rule One was 'Never Look an Officer with a Map in the Eye'. Better bundle up, chief. I don't want you catching cold out there. Or at least pack a poncho." he offered. "I mean, it'd blow right off, but the t'ought counts, right?"