dark_ages | landing party ( for thecanarylives )

landing party ( for thecanarylives )

[ He comes to with his head pounding, his vision blurred, and a persistent ringing in his ears. It takes him a while-- a good while, maybe seconds or maybe minutes, to even regain his vision properly, and to take in his surroundings. He's in a shuttle, which is completely wrecked, panels broken and burnt, wires hanging from everywhere, sparks going off and small fires here or there. They're also tilted forward slightly, so he can feel his weight pushing against the belts keeping him strapped to his chair. He looks beyond the window and he sees a lush forest just outside, trees and blue skies as far as the eye can see. It'd be pretty if not for the fact that they've clearly crashed on the planet they were supposed to land on.

Shit. Holy shit, they crashed. How the fuck did they crash? Leonard just wanted to gather some samples from the surface, it didn't even warrant a landing party bigger than two people, how the fuck did they end up like this?

That thought gets his brain into gear. Because he's not alone. He looks over to find Sara passed out, though at least thankfully still strapped to her seat. He lets out a shuddered breath, trying not to panic as he struggles to undo his own safety belt. ]

Sara!! Come on, you piece of shi-- [ His panicked grousing is cut off as his belt comes undone, and he just barely manages to brace himself against the controls rather than slam right into them. Head still spinning, he nevertheless forces himself to stumble towards her, looking her over briefly for possible injuries before he cups her face, trying to wake her up. ] Sara. Hey, can you hear me? Come on, open your eyes...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Despite the cooler air, the sun warms them considerably, and the climbing also ups his temperature slightly. He's pulling his uniform shirt off when they pause for a break, pulling up the sleeves of his black undershirt, taking a few gulps from his own water before reaching for the sunscreen spray on his kit. Pretty glad he's included that one in there, now. ]

Let me check. Here. [ He hands her the spray so she can apply a layer to any exposed skin, pulling up his own comm device and trying to get some sort of signal. ]

Still dead. Whatever's interfering with communications, it wasn't exclusive to that cave.

[ Their uniforms are meant to adapt to the temperature, somehow. Breathable and insulating - an impressive kind of technology, but more meant for the chill of space than long hikes in the beating sun. Mostly, the long sleeves are just annoying after too long, and she quickly follows his lead in stripping off the top layer of her uniform and tucking into the side of her bag.

She glances over and takes the can from him, applying some of the spray to her arms and shoulders and a bit to her face. ]

It's not just the cave. It's this whole planet. The atmosphere's all messed up. [ She sighs, tucking her comm link into her bag and taking another few sips of water. ]

Scotty's gonna need to work a hell of a lot of magic to beam us back this time.

[ It's true, and as a doctor, Leonard's a great advocate for their uniforms' capabilities, however that shirt is damn filthy right now, and no matter what reason says, it felt hot and uncomfortable. This at least lets him breathe a little easier, and the undershirt's made of the same kind of versatile material, so it'll do just fine to keep him protected. ]

Which means we're probably in for some extended vacation down here.

[ He lets out a soft groan, not looking even a little bit pleased about it. ]

I'd give it... a couple days, three at best, before Jim gets tired of waitin' and just decides to come down here himself. That is, if they can't figure out some other way to pierce through all this interference. Meanwhile, we should find a place to actually settle into and make ourselves as comfortable as we can. Is the cave alright, or do you think we should find someplace with better visibility?

[ He'd defer to her expertise on that. He's admittedly not the most experienced when it comes to survival, but she evidently is. ]

[ There's a chance her gaze lingers on his arms, dragging down to those legendary hands he likes to brag about so much. But eventually she diverts her attention to the trail behind them again, making sure there's no movement in the brush. ]

What, this isn't luxurious to you? Fresh air, the great outdoors, damn good company? You could do a lot worse, you know.

[ She quirks a small smile, downing a bit more water before tucking the canteen back into her pack. ]

Captain's not all that great with patience. And you're one of his favorite crew members. I'll put a bottle of whiskey down we'll see him by sundown tomorrow. [ She gets to her feet, furrowing a brow and scanning the landscape in front of them. ]

The cave is a good backup, if we can't find something livable on higher ground. Let's keep an eye out either way. [ She wipes the sweat from her hairline with the back of her hand, handing him back the bottle of sunscreen. ] You ready?

[ He tries not to brag so much about his legendary hands these days, at least not around her. Things still feel a little awkward, even if they do seem perfectly capable of spending time together and working alongside each other. Honestly, of all the people to get stuck with in the middle of an alien forest, she's probably one of the best options on the ship, if not the best. ]

You've got yourself a deal. [ He nods at her, smiling faintly. Spock's there too, and Leonard's fairly sure that he'll keep Jim in check if he starts getting any reckless ideas.

He nods for now, shouldering his bag again and setting it up in the most comfortable position he can manage. ]

I'm good, yes. Let's get goin'.

[ Concussions aside, she's made a conscious effort lately to try and keep everything friendly and platonic between them. Still, even encountering him in the halls felt awkward and stilted at times - a tight smile, a professional nod, entirely normal for anyone passing by but somehow still leaving a strange after-taste in its wake.

This is the most time they've actually spent together since that night and breakfast the morning after. The realization tugs at her out of nowhere, and for a fleeting moment it's comforting to know they've gotten this far without things getting any more awkward.

She leads the way back up the mountain, picking the way up carefully as the path starts to narrow and the ground starts to turn rocky. The further up they climb, the steeper the drop to their right, jagged rocks jutting out to a sharp angle down the side of the cliff. ]

How are you with heights? [ she asks innocently, the flat of her hand pressing to the stone wall at her left for balance. ]

[ Weird and terrible though it is to think of it in such terms, the truth of the matter is that the fact that they've crashed has probably helped a lot with keeping things more or less comfortable between them. They've got so much to worry about, so much to focus on, that they don't even have the time to allow for awkward silences or ill-considered comments. At most they had a few moments the night before, but then she was quick enough to fall asleep, so there was that.

It probably won't last much longer. Especially if it takes the crew longer than a day to get them out of here. But for now, at least, they have more pressing matters at hand.

Leonard lets out a soft little groan at her question, his eyes going down to the cliff despite his best efforts to keep his eyes fixed ahead. He regrets it almost immediately. ]

Bad. Just-- bad. How much longer until we make it to the top? [ He just doesn't wanna start feeling dizzy now. ]

[ The concussed side of her might have made things a little awkward in her ramblings the night before, but other than that she has to admit things have felt oddly... normal between them. More comfortable than she'd probably be stranded on a foreign planet along with anyone else on the crew, anyway.

At the sound of his grumble, she casts a glance back at him, noting the fleeting gaze he casts down at the rocky cliffs below. ]

Hey. Eyes on me. [ She catches his gaze, holding it firmly a moment. ] Take it slow. Step where I step. Steady breaths. [ She doesn't answer his question, mostly because she doesn't exactly know how much longer they'll be at this. Distance is hard to gauge at this angle, and the path is likely to get worse before it gets better.

She pushes forward, the temperature dropping steeply the further up they climb. Checking back every few moments to make sure he's alright, she maneuvers them a little further before calling back to him. ]

There's a landing up ahead. Not too much further. Still with me, Doc?

[ Leonard looks up the moment she speaks up, his eyes finding her again and nodding. She's right, he's better off looking at her as he follows, rather than looking down. That's just gonna make matters worse. ]

Right...

[ It's more of a mutter to himself, as he gathers himself and resumes the walking. He doesn't look down this time, which, although it doesn't solve the issue entirely, at least helps keep him calm and allows him to keep up the same pace too. ]

Yeah, still here.

[ No, I took a left on the last pointy rock. The hell kinda question is that? Luckily he's a bit out of breath and worried to be his usual charming self, so that remark stays in his head as they walk the rest of the way up to the landing. ]

[ She quiets down to concentrate on the path ahead, picking her way slowly up towards the landing ahead. Reaching up to test the stability of the rock, she hoists herself up and scans the landing before turning to reach down to help him up. ]

This should be far enough. If we can't get signal up here, we're not getting it at all.

[ She grasps his forearms and hauls him up to join her, handing him her water bottle before digging around for her communicator. ]

[ Leonard climbs up and takes a moment to steady his balance, keeping himself very still for fear that the whole damn thing is just gonna topple over without warning. She seems to have the whole comm device thing under control, so he takes a few sips of water while he waits for a verdict. ]

Anything?

[ He manages to sound both hopeful and not at all, somehow. ]

[ She glances over to make sure he's settled, then returns her attention to the communicator. Fiddling with it for a moment, she furrows her brow and taps at it a few times. ]

Still dead. But...

[ She rummages through her bag again, pulling out a small devices that she unfolds into a small satellite dish. Activating it, she waits a moment before returning to her communicator again. ]

Shit. [ She wrinkles her nose, setting the comm device down next to the dish and leaning back against the stone. ]

We'll leave it on for a bit. See if maybe we can pick something up. You hungry?

[ Leonard cranes his neck a bit to get a look at what she's doing. He doesn't think the satellite dish will work, still there's just a spark of hope that he clings to for a few seconds... then he breathes out a quiet, defeated sigh when nothing happens.

He looks at Sara, shaking his head. ] Thanks, but I'm good. How are your injuries doing? Anything you need me to check?

[ The satellite, like most of the technology they've brought with them on this trip, remains undisturbed by any signal - or lack thereof - around them. She curses under her breath at both devices, leaning her head back against the stone and closing her eyes a moment. ]

I'm fine. And if you try scanning me with that thing one more time, I swear to...

[ Her eyes blink open, realization hitting her as she sits upright. ]

Your scanner. It's like the only tech that's worked this whole trip. [ She gestures to his bag. ] Does it send signals? Any data that might be backed up to the ship, maybe?

[ Leonard's about to open his mouth to shoot back that there's nothing wrong with just wanting to be sure she's doing alright, after all she did take the brunt of the damage when they crashed and he doesn't need her slipping into a coma the next time she falls asleep, thanks. Her sudden shift in topic, however, successfully gets his attention. ]

Supposedly no, it only works on much shorter distances, to send information to a PADD or some other sort of computer. But if you want to fiddle with it and see if there's anything you can do, have at it.

[ He hands her the tricorder, holding on for just a moment. ]

Just try not to ruin it completely. It might yet come in handy while we're stuck down here, and I don't have a spare one.

[ It's sweet that he cares and he's a damn good doctor, whatever, whatever. But the gears are already turning in her mind, puzzling together the tools they already have and how she might, somehow, be able to McGyver them together into something, anything that'll reach the Enterprise.

Pausing when he doesn't let go of the tricorder, she narrows her eyes at him, flashing him a smile. ]

Don't you trust me by now, Doc?

[ She winks, taking the device from him and fiddling with it a moment. Frowning, she digs into her bag for a few spare wires to connect it to the small satellite dish and the communicator, brow furrowed as she works. ]

Might wanna get comfortable. Even if I can manage to get this to work, it could be a while until anyone even notices we're sending a signal.

[ For a moment, her gaze flits up to find the position of the sun, low in the clouds and heading towards the horizon. ]

It's gonna get cold up here pretty soon.

[ He doesn't doubt her skills, really, but he also doesn't underestimate their current predicament. He doesn't think getting in touch with the ship will be that easy. Then again, maybe they don't need to actually be able to communicate with them; just a faint beacon to let them know they're alive and more or less where they are should already help plenty. ]

Just don't want you to wreck it completely, is all.

[ It's not that he can't do his job without it, but it's an incredibly useful tool, especially when they're stuck in a place like this. He nods and reaches for his backpack, pulling out the blankets again once she mentions how cold it'll get. ]

I've got a couple spare sweaters. Just let me know when you start getting too cold.

[ She's not entirely convinced it'll work, either, but one strategy is better than zero. She's grasping at straws here, but if there's a chance it works, then it's well worth the roll of the dice. Once the devices are all haphazardly connected, she attempts to send a file out from the tricorder to the Enterprise's main frame. The signal flickers a moment, attempting to connect, cycling through its process a moment before flashing red. ]

Shit.

[ She sighs, flipping the satellite dish on to scan for signal and hooking the tricorder up to a power source before sitting back. ]

Guess it'd be too easy if it worked on the first try, right? [ She leans back on the rock next to him, pulling her knees up to her chest and watching the display cycle. Resting her arms on her knees, she glances over to where the sun is setting, the clouds low on the horizon casting a bright orange haze along the valley of trees below them. ]

Well. At least neither of us is totally concussed tonight. That's a win, right?

[ Even if he wasn't quite holding his breath on that one, he still leans forward, peering into the device, a hint of hope he doesn't try to push down. He deflates a little when the message doesn't go through, but he's not too terribly surprised or disappointed by it.

He sits back again, waiting until she's sitting down to throw the other end of the blanket over her. They'll have to huddle a little for warmth, but he'll do his very best not to make things awkward for her. ]

I'd say. Good to know I won't have to carry all this crap and you on our way back down.

[ She shifts a little closer when he tosses her part of the blanket, settling in so they're shoulder to shoulder and the fabric can fit over them both. She doesn't mind the proximity, especially when the temperature is already dropping as the sun starts to disappear behind the horizon. ]

I'm not that heavy. [ She flashes him a grin, eyes flicking over to the device's display again before she rests her head back against the stone behind them. ]

Besides, I took your tricorder apart. Can't scan me for brain bleeds every five seconds anymore, Doc.

[ Given their current circumstances, any sense of awkwardness will have to be set aside for the sake of comfort, safety and conserving their body heat. He tucks the fabric closer, making sure they're both settled comfortably and as covered as they possibly can be. ]

I'm not that strong.

[ He shoots back to her with a raised eyebrow, smiling crookedly at her, his eyes going back to the contraption she's put together. ]

Somehow I'm startin' to get the feeling that's the only reason why you took it apart.

[ They're both fully functional adults, mostly. They can get through life threatening disaster without being totally awkward about it.

She pulls her knees up to her chest, blanket tucked around her shoulders as she watches the devices sit idle in front of them. Smirking at his words, she glances over at him to return his smile. ]

You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. [ Her gaze lingers a moment before she shifts her attention out to the horizon, a chuckle on her lips before she shakes her head. ]

Alright, maybe it was a little of both. But it'll be worth it if anyone up there picks up the signal.

[ He sort of wants to point out that going down this steep mountain on his own is already going to be hard enough, let alone carrying her and all their things, but he kind of picks up on a hint of teasing there and he lets the matter drop, lest the conversation will delve into awkward territory. He smiles faintly, leaning his head back against the rock too, trying to get some rest even if he doesn't plan on falling asleep. ]

How long do you think we should stay up here?

[ She keeps her gaze trained on the devices, as if willing them to confirm something - anything - helpful. Chewing on the inside of her lip, she shrugs her good shoulder in response to his question. ]

Until it works. Promised you you'd see the Captain by tomorrow, didn't I?

Great. We're gonna freeze halfway through the night up here.

[ It's a very real possibility! But well, at least it's still somewhat early, so they should be fine. For now. He might have to insist that they go back down and find some shelter later if it gets to be too cold. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject