5/13/2261
Gemini II
Southwestern Peninsula

The weather was relatively mild for this part of the planet today; only a few flakes were falling from
the sky but the winds where still icy. Kirk, Alyen, L'Naym and Lieutenant Taya Williams drew their
hoods closer about their heads. Lieutenant P'lal didn't, as an Andorian she was used to cold and found
the current weather quite pleasant. Thelin, during his regular trips to the planet, had greatly enjoyed it.

Gemini I and II were both cold worlds. (Kirk had jokingly called them Delta Vega II and III, while
others had called them the Snow Planets.) Gemini I was a class P world and completely covered in ice
and glaciers. It appeared to be lifeless but had incredible geography. Thelin had particularly enjoyed
studying its climate since it greatly resembled Andoria.

Gemini II was slightly warmer although also perpetually covered in snow. It consisted of stunning
mountains, vast tundra, a few tiny thicket-like forests in sheltered valleys in the equator and many
species of animals. Part of the planet resembled Antarctica but other parts had reminded Williams
of her native Alaska.

Tomorrow the Saratoga would be leaving both planets and the Tymle Cluster and moving on to her
next assignment, but Kirk had decided to make one last planetary trip and to take his Soul Siblings.

Kirk grinned at the lifemates. Most of Nlia's land masses comprised of desert and even the tiny forested
Northern Continent never saw snow. Every time the Nlians had come to the surface, despite the cold,
their eyes had always filled with wonder at such a different environment from their own.

He took note of their shivering however. "Come on, guys," he said. "We're almost someplace warm.
Beautiful, too! You'll love it."

He and another team had discovered the promised spot some time ago. He had been determined to show
it to his Soul Siblings and today he had brought them down. They had had to use a shuttle; due to their
unique biology, it wasn't safe for pregnant Nlians to transport, so until her baby was born, L'Naym would
have to rely on shuttles for transportation. And she wouldn't be doing much more of that either; pregnant
crewmembers weren't allowed on potentially dangerous away missions, so her times off the Saratoga
were going to become increasingly restricted.

The Saratoga had been studying this planet for nearly two weeks. The particular area they were in now
was located on a tiny peninsula that had no large predators and right now the weather was reasonably gentle
with only a few flakes of gently falling snow so Kirk had deemed it safe. (Although he had both P'lal and
Williams along for security and Petty Officer Ferien had the shuttle warmed and waiting not far away)
His Soul Sister wouldn't be able to go on many away missions in the future and he wanted to make sure
the few she still could go on counted.

The scent and feel of steam him them. With a grin, Kirk beckoned the Nlians forward. Alyen's eyes widened
and L'Naym's lit up as they took in the scene.

It was a large geothermal spring, its waters bubbling up hot. Steam rising from the crystalline waters melted
the surrounding snows and the cold weather froze the ground again. As a result, everything near the springs
was slicked with glistening ice.

"It's just like crystal," L'Nyam breathed.

There were plenty of hot springs in both the Northern and Southern Lands, but since it never snowed
on Nlia, neither she nor her lifemate had ever seen a sight like this before.

At the springs a small herd of creatures resembling white mountain goats were grazing on the tough
surrounding plants. They were being teased by two canid- like creatures about the size of foxes.

Excitedly, L'Naym began to move closer. "Watch your step," Kirk murmured gently, so as not to dispel
her wonder. "It's pretty slippery."

L'Naym carefully picking her way across the ice-covered rock. Side by side she and her lifemate made
their way toward the herd with Kirk, Williams and P'lal trailing close behind.

When they were still several yards away, Alyen gently put a hand on his lifemate's shoulder. "Best not
to get too close, Beloved. We don't want to startle them."

"He's right, they startle easily," Kirk put in. "And those horns of theirs aren't for show. The last team got a
little too close and one of those rams gave Ensign Keller a nasty head butt."

As if on cue one of the rams looked up. It had apparently had enough teasing because with a sudden
charge it butted its head into one of the canid's shoulders. It was hurled back with a startled yelp and both
it and its companion fled.

"See what I mean?" Kirk said.

L'Naym nodded silently, not taking her eyes off herd of the springs.

For several minutes the party simply stood, silently taking in the beautiful scene: the herd, the crystalline
springs, the surrounding field of snow and all the while snowflakes falling gently to the ground around them.

At length, a comm came through.

"Captain. Our sensors report that a snow storm is approaching your location. It won't reach you for another
half hour but you and your party should probably return to the shuttle."

"Will do, Akari," he answered. He put back his comm and turned to the Nlians. "Come on, Guys, we should
head back."

Both the Nlians nodded and all of them turned and started heading back toward their waiting shuttle.

As she drew close to Kirk, L'Naym reached out and took his hand. "Thank you, Jim," she whispered.
They were both wearing gloves so they couldn't touch souls, but her eyes conveyed her gratitude.

"You're welcome, sis," he said softly.