Warm Memories "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.16 2200

"Captain, wake up," Teilani said. "Ian Hunter open your eyes!!"

Ian opened his eyes, "What?"

"You were off to sleep Sir," Teilani said barely able to keep her eyes open. "We gotta stay awake. Hypothermia, you know."

"Awake... right," said Hunter half sleeping. He stirred and repositioned his arms so they were in a more appropriate place around Teilani.

Teilani could not stop shivering, oh how she wished she was back on Mars. But at least being hugged by the Captain made it a little better.

Trying to rouse Teilani's moral, Hunter spoke softly, "This isn't as bad as when my uncle and I climbed Mount Rainier on earth."

She looked up. "Sir,?!? your uncle?"

Hunter chuckled lightly, "ah yes, my uncle. He practically raised me. His name was Stormy Carter. He was about as rugged as they come."

"In what way Sir, Teilani asked. "Was he like the old pioneers?"

"Yeah," said Hunter fondly remembering him. "He hated technology...yeah, you could say he was a 'mountain man'"

Teilani smiled as she hugged Hunter a little tighter. "Your own father he is deceased," she asked softly.

"No, my father was alive at the time. He was just never around. He was a career officer." Hunter paused. "My uncle lived with us for a long time. We lived west of Denver, up in the mountains. He would take me fishing and hiking. We would explore ancient gold mines and had all kinds of adventures."

Teilani giggled as she pictured Hunter as a little boy, climbing rocks, falling and hurting his knees.

"Well Sir, if you don't mind my saying but I just pictured you as a little boy, following your uncle, climbing rocks, hurting your knees and such. It reminds me of a old earth show once called Grizzly Adams."

Ian laughed softly, "I've never heard of that, but it certainly fits my Uncle Stormy."

"Did you ever found gold?" Teilani asked. " I mean I know from old earth history stories that their was something called a gold rush."

"Well, now that is something I can say I've heard of. The Colorado Rockies did not have near the notoriety of the California Gold rush, but growing up there, I can recall hearing lots of stories about the old gold and silver mines centuries ago. Old wild west stuff. "

Teilani gniffled. "Yes I can see it in front of me some old cowboy, herding cows, finding an old goldmine."

"Perhaps," said Hunter, "We could do a wester holo-novel sometime."

"That would be great, we could combine all the wild west items into one big story," Teilani said huddling closer to Hunter.

"So tell me about your brother, when was the last time you saw him?"

Teilani's voice sounded a bit muffled form inside her jacket. "That has been a long time," Sir. "I left home in not such good circumstances and that was the last time I saw Eric in the flesh. During my academy years we had been in regular contact but the last few years I haven't heard from him.

Hunter shifted a little, "What is he like?"

"He is similar to me Sir," Teilani said with a smile around her lips. "Tenacious, stubborn but he is my brother and I just need to know if he is alright. I made a promise to him when he was little and I will keep that promise."

"A promise? what kind of promise?" inquired Hunter.

"Well I told him no matter what that I would always be there for him and that when ever he needed my help he could count me in."

"That is a pretty tall order. How did he end up here?"

"That is what I would like to know too Sir. I know Eric, he would never referred to crime, so either he must have been forced into what ever he did causing him to end up here or he got mixed up with the wrong friends."

"I guess it could happen."

"You know Captain," Teilani continued while trying to get something from her pocket. "I recently heard from Ms Zoei that my parents have been found, Unfortunately they are no longer with us and besides Eric I don't have many family left now."

"I understand, I have only my mother and my sister." Hunter paused for a moment, "..and my niece."

"Chocolate?"

Hunter smiled and wondered how women manage to find that stuff. "No thanks," responded Hunter politely.

"Anyway if it turns out that he has become a criminal I will make sure that he serves his time, even though it means I have to take him back to RP myself."

"That's tough love." said Hunter with admiration.

"How is the storm doing?" asked Teilani. Ian parted the lips of the sleeping bag and peered out.

Still from the entrance of the cave they noticed the strong cold wind and blizzards of ice beating their hide out.

"No change." he said closing it back up. "But it is definitely warmer in here."

In the back of Hunter's mind, worries of getting back to the landing site by tomorrow night nagged at him.

"Your brother had to get help to get off this rock." surmised Hunter. "After his escape they extended the force field. I wonder how far they extended it."

"Uhu, I wonder too," Teilani responded nibbling at the chocolate. Enjoying the taste. Comfort food Eric used to call it. He always brought her some if she had had a fight with her sister.

Ian looked at the chronometer on his wrist. It was just after 0300. He then pulled a luminary from his pocket and activated it with a twist. It cast a soft light.

"You are worried arn't you Captain. About us, if we get back in time?" Teilani said softly her green eyes looking up at Hunter's face.

Putting on a macho poker face, Ian responded, "Nah, we have 20 hours left. Plenty of time..."

Ian gazed back at Teilani, He remembered the first time he saw her.

After several moments past, Ian spoke softly, "..plenty of time."

Teilani blushed a little, she suddenly felt hot, as she noticed the intense gaze with which Ian looked at her. As strand of red hair felt over her forehead. If only she could read his mind.

"Your sure you don't want to have some chocolate," she asked with a husky and soft voice. She licked the corner of her mouth tasting the sweetness of the candy.

Hunter smiled at the gesture, "Okay, perhaps a little."

She broke some the chocolate and handed it to Hunter.

Taking a nibble of the chocolate, Ian nodded, "I can't remember the last time I tasted chocolate. But then again, I can't remember the last time I did much of anything enjoyable," He confessed.

"How come," Teilani said. "Especially you should be able to do something enjoyable, I mean the stress you are constantly under. It must be difficult to focus sometimes."

"You should talk Doctor, I think you are more of a work-a-holic than I am," said Ian with a grin.

Teilani smiled. "You are right but for what its worth Sir, although I freeze my butt off, I enjoy this little sit around the campfire with you. Although next time, if there is any, we have to find a warmer place."

"Agreed Doctor, or at least some real wood."

"Hatsjoe," Teilani sneezed. "Oh great now I have a cold too. But I mean it Captain, once we are back on board I am going to schedule you some daily R&R doctors orders." She grinned.

"Me? heal thy self physician!"

Teilani laughed, a clear laugher resonated through the cave. "Hatsjoe, I will schedule some R&R for myself as well, but then again I don't have to fly a ship."

Hunter settled back.

After a while Teilani unzipped the sleeping bag and peered outside. "It looks like the storm has subsided Ian, ehm Captain." she said.

Hunter looked at his chronometer, it was after 0900. The night had passed.

" You think we should risk it getting back.? I don't want to be left on this heap of ice any longer."

Hunter stirred and sat up. Teilani was right. The wind was no longer howling and the cave seemed much warmer.

Teilani felt at the padd she had tucked away. Good it was still there, she wondered what was on it.

Standing up, Ian stretched and yawned. It had been a long night. Ian peeled back tarp that he sealed the entry way with and stepped through. Teilani was right behind.

They walked around the front of the snow speeder. "Oh no." said Ian, the cave is sealed shut. Ian and Teilani walked closer to see that the entrance was blocked with frozen ice and snow. Ian kicked the obstacle. It was very solid. "I think I hate this place." Said Hunter turning to Teilani.