Chapter 7

"Silence So Deep"

Wil woke to the chill of the wind rushing against the edges of his tent. It was early the sun was just over the horizon and Blake was warming his hands against the fire's glow. Wil sigh quietly and went out to great the young guard. Josh pulled right to attention as he heard his commanding officer exit his tent.

"At ease Lieutenant we aren't on the bridge we are in nature. Enjoy the beauty take a deep breath it will be a long time before we have such a fair morning."

"Yes sir good morning how was your night?"

"Cold, I wish I woke up with my wife in my arms and my daughter jumping on or bed. How was your night?"

"Cold sir very cold the wind off the mountains kept me up most of the night somehow air kept finding its way into my tent."

"Well we have rations let's get some breakfast we start out in one hour to search for the missing crew members. I just hope they still are alive after the cold that has been creeping into the mountains."

"Yes sir."

Wil shook his head as he and Blake eat their rations. Wil's mind traveled to his family they would be still sleeping now he shook his head again and came back to the planet.

An hour passed and they officers packed their things and traveled up the path to the mountains. Blake's tricorder beeped steadily as they went on their way. The air was crisp with the smell of a storm lurking on the peaks. Wil signaled his tricorder to the peak and sighed.

"There is a storm coming just off that rift we have to keep moving this isn't going to be a safe place to stay the night. Come there is still many hours left of the day I would like to get at least 2 kilometers ahead. The tricorder picked up the signal from the shuttle. It was to cold for them to stay in the vessel so they must have found shelter. Come its going to be a long day."

The security officer nodded and both moved through the thick snow before them. As the day grew colder and night was coming near Wil found an area where they would be safe from the storm. Inside a small opening Wil and Blake put up their tents and moved to the fire. The wind off the peaks kept it very low and not much heat escaped the flames. To make time and the cold drift away Blake opened the conversation about with a question.

"Captain, when will the storm move over us?"

"It will be a very bad storm but If this crevasse stays clear of the storm it should be gone by tomorrow. So Lieutenant is their a woman in your life?"

"Yes sir, she is still in Starfleet she is a few years younger then I?"

"Oh what is she studying?"

"Xenobiology she really is enjoying it."

"What are her future plans?"

"To be stationed on this ship. Right after she graduates we are to marry. I have to say that I am a little nervous about it marriage is such a commitment. I don't think I am ready for that responsibility."

"Do you love her?"

"With my whole heart it's like she is the other half of me that without her my life wouldn't be complete."

"I know how that feels. My wife and I are like that."

Distant rumbling catches Wil's attention the snow from the ledge above them started to fall. It was an avalanche and it was going to be a bad avalanche.

"Avalanche! Hurry we have to find a cave to stay in if not its going to kill us."

"But what about our things?"

"There's no time hurry!"

Wil and Blake stumble as the snow falls on top of them burying them alive. Meanwhile back on the Titan Deanna bolts up in bed something was wrong with Wil. She knew it she could sense his fear.

TBC…Chapter 8