She couldn't stand just imagining it or reading about it… the ice planet. Its glaciers and rock formations were legendary for their shapes and formations. After all the ice never melts, so freeze-thaw is basically non-existent. Thousands upon thousands of layers of ice constantly piling on top of each other… the verse's only known 'growing' planet. Not to mention the catacomb fields formed in ancient weathering.
Just yesterday she got the notice of her assignment to join the research team on their new expedition. Unfortunately, the notice also came late, arriving only after the entire team landed on the planet. Yet, blessing in disguise, a freighting ship had a passenger space available and the team's shuttle could meet it as it passed.
Boarding the ship was amusing, mainly because of the men's amusement as she struggled loading her gear into the small locker near her space. The docking pilot surprised her by lending her a helping hand (and truly one hand) then asking her "What's a pretty little thing like you headin' to the ice planet for?" Despite (or because of) his overly flashy smile, she only grinned.
Turning away from him, she climbed into her tank and prepared for take-off.
The settlers had come to close to his previous camp so he'd been forced to move. The fact there were settlers period baffled him, and he didn't like being baffled.
He followed the group a few days later, didn't like what he found.
Scientists. Might as well be morons for all the good they do. Tried telling the world it was going to hell in a handbag, yet they themselves are oblivious to the part they play in it's destruction.
So when they set up camp on a smooth ice field three miles away from the catacombs, it was only natural he shifted his camp to the other side. No way could they hike by without him seeing. No way could they find him without him finding them first.
Shuttle change and one bumpy landing latter, Stephanie was being tossed in the air.
"Fi!" Robert hollered above the biting wind. His hands gripped her tightly around the waist, even as he set her back down. He yelled over the wind, "You've got to come inside, before you freeze, and we'll show you the pictures of the exploration site. You're gonna love it!"
Before she could hit him for the freezing comment, or even reply really, he was hauling her threw the snow and leaving Joey to carry her gear.
"We've already mapped out the area within a ten-mile radius, but we haven't even touched the catacombs yet." He reached the ice plains where the tents were set up. In the center, the research building was still in the process of being set up. Due to the environment, they had no way to set up a permanent site, but they could set up a semi-permanent one with a military dome. As soon as the rest of the supplies showed up.
Cheap ass sponsors, Stephanie thought, only a percentage more on top of the bottom line and the research would be fully underway and the site set up. Robert led her past the half set up building to a row of green reinforced tents. Second row in, second tent in. He stopped, ripped open the flap to expose three scientists arguing over a map.
"No, the first spot is the crevice on the west edge!"
"What about the multitude of crevasses beyond the northern ridge? You gonna forget about them?"
Well, maybe more like squabbling toddlers than scientists. Stephanie laughed, loud boisterous gasps of air that distracted the hounds from their prize kill. She was over sixty three thousand light years from her birth planet, yet here was home. Amongst the squabbling toddlers.
"Fi!" The cries came as Kimi, Reginald, and Alicia realized she was standing there. Once again she was hauled up off her feet and the three attacked her with hugs and squeals.
"How was your trip?" Alicia asked, almond shaped eyes creasing at the corners even more as her grinned broadened knowingly in response to Stephanie shrugged. "That's what I thought. Docking pilot try to hit on you?"
Stephanie nodded.
Reginald shook his head, "Poor bastard, imagine if he actually got you?"
Both Kimi and Stephanie gasped, as Robert laughed. When the glares turned to him, he shrugged. "It was funny."
Stephanie rolled her eyes then pointed at the map.
Kimi sighed, "That's the mess of a project you volunteered for, hun. It's a dozy."