Far Over, The Highland Mountains, Cold - Part One

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2020 @ 3:15am by Fleet Admiral Heather Duval & Commander Ethan "Hardcase" Duval

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Deneva - Highland Mountains
Timeline: 0900Hrs - June 17th, 2393

Ethan Duval was standing at the edge of a rather large outcropping as he regarded the dry, arid environment around him, it was various shades of brown ranging from a light pale yellow to dark shades of rust. Jeff smiled as he felt the cold winds biting at his face, the ground around him was endless and eternal, it was also rugged and beautiful to his eyes. Yet somehow he missed the fact he was not standing alone.

"Don't you know, it's dangerous to go hiking alone?" a female voice spoke to him. The female in question looked to be towards the later stages of middle life with a mane of long silver hair that was pulled back into a ponytail and tied off so it was out of the way of her face, she regarded him while she remained motionless, she wore similar attire to him, hiking boots, heavy jacket, black pants and large pack which clearly indicated she was heading somewhere.

"Around these rocks, it's dangerous to do anything alone." Ethan Duval answered the female as she came over to him. "You seem to have a lot on your mind... Mind if I tag along?" she inquired of him.

"Not at all. The peaks are to be enjoyed by all." Ethan responded evenly. "What are you here for?" Duval inquired.

"Me.." the female inquired as she gave him a sidelong look. "I am looking for someone." the strange woman explained as she smiled gently.

"Well. You have found someone." Ethan answered her in an easy tone of voice. "Well if you wish to go hiking then let's go hiking." with that Duval set off up the trail. The skies were devoid of clouds, as such it was a brilliant blue as the wind was light. Duval produced an old style tricorder from thirty years earlier. "Mmm... Weather should be decent for the next while... the wind is westerly at five to ten." he gave her a quick weather forecast.

"So.. a good day for a hike then?" the female asked him, sounding hopeful.

"Yep. I'm heading towards Pike's Peak today... I doubt I'll get there before sundown, however." Duval responded before he slipped the tricorder away. "So. How long you here for?"

"What makes you think I'm here for any length of time?" the female inquired.

"The way you walk, you are Starfleet and don't bother to deny it," Duval answered her bluntly.

"Yes. I'm here for a week. The Reach can do without me for that long and I need to get a little leave time in." the silver-haired woman smiled. "Besides... I can do far worse than this place and you know it."

Duval regarded her, wondering if there was more to this woman then she seemed when there was a sudden gust of cold wind. "Oooh." she reacted first as Duval simply closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of exhilaration it gave him, to feel something, anything other than anger, hate, and rage. "Uh that feels tingly." he sighed happily.

Heather regarded him in silence, as despite his looks, this man was not her brother. "You don't say much.." she mused aloud.

"There is no need to waste time and fill a space that doesn't need to be filled with chatter," Ethan responded in a light tone, while he went up the trail, the strange woman following behind him. "So.. tell me something? what is a fleet commander doing here?. Don't you have like a ton of paperwork or something?"

"No. I'm here because I am on vacation for a few days." the woman responded as she brushed her silvery hair from out of her eyes, she then quickly produced a small elastic band and she quickly tied her hair back into a simple yet effective ponytail. She didn't even bother to deny that she was a fleet commander either.

"Not just anybody comes here on vacation," Duval answered evenly as he regarded the strange woman. "We're about six miles from the monastery and that's about an hour's walk home at best. So... Who are you.." he pressed ahead with his explanation. "If something goes wrong, I need to know I can trust you and I don't even know your name."

The strange woman sighed. "I am Heather Duval," she explained herself. "Your sister, native to this reality that is," she explained.

"Oh.. and how do you know about me?" Duval inquired of her in a gentle tone of voice.

"Various ways. But Jeff mentioned you to me. He mentioned that he had met a twin brother from another reality that he didn't know existed." she answered. "I knew I needed to find this man and my travels lead me here to you. Lei Shen was most helpful to me in this regard."

"Jeff..." Duval paused. "I imagine that's short for Jefferson or Jeffery," Duval commented in a nonchalant manner.

"Jeffery Duval is his name.. You avoided talking to him or even meeting him before you left," Heather responded. "Mind if I ask why?" she had her own theories but she wanted to be sure before she started assuming things.

"It's not him.. It's-" he breathed out. "-his wife." Ethan paused, suddenly unsure of how to explain, he sighed as he sought some idea of how to explain.