More Than a Lifetime #5: Return to Normal

Chapter 6

A light sprinkle began to fall on the team as the dark storm clouds approached the area.

"We need to find shelter," Will said. "Those clouds don't look very nice." He looked around. "I need everyone to scan for any kind of cave or structure we could use for shelter," he announced. The officers didn't hesitate to begin their search. They began roaming the area, searching with tricorders for a place of refuge from the coming storms.

Dani instinctively reached for her tricorder, and with a frustrated sigh, remembered that she hadn't been issued one due to the nature of her assignment to guard Q.

Will turned to Ensign Clements. "Mr. Clements, I need you to keep track of our environmental readings. I want to know of any changes, no matter how small."

"Aye, sir," Clements said, nodding and opening his tricorder. He programmed it to detect meteorological readings and began monitoring the planet's atmospheric changes.

"Is there anything I can do?" Dani asked. She hated feeling useless, which was how she felt now.

Will looked at her and then at Q. "Yes. Keep an eye on him." Dani and Q exchanged looks. This wasn't the reply Dani wanted.

"Sir, I've found something!" Shields proclaimed.

"What is it, Ensign?" Will asked, walking over to her.

"A system of caves, sir, only about a kilometer east of here," Shields explained.

"Sir," Clements began, "precipitation is beginning to fall at a faster rate."

Will looked up at the darkening sky. As he did so, a drop of rain hit him squarely in the eye. He looked to Clements. The ensign hadn't yet given him a report on the composition of the precipitation. Although this stuff looked and felt like water, it could very well burn his eye out for all he knew.

"No toxins or dangerous elements of any kind detected," Clements said, reading from his tricorder. He looked at the commader. "It's harmless."

Will nodded. "Let's go!" he ordered, as a light rain began to fall on the group. Ensign Shields led the way as the group journeyed to shelter.

"This is a peculiar sensation," Q observed. "I've never been wet before."

"You're going to be a lot wetter if this rain picks up before we reach the caves," Dani informed him. As if it had been waiting on Dani's cue, the sky burst open, it seemed, and rain started to pour down upon the group at an unbelievable rate. Everyone was drenched in a matter of seconds.

Dani looked at Q. "See what I mean?" she asked him.

Q regarded himself with disgust. "This is not a pleasant feeling," Q said.

"Why do you think we're looking for shelter?" Dani asked

"This is it, Commander," Shields announced. Dani and everyone else stopped walking. They had reached the entrance of what looked like a cave. Shields looked at Will, who gave her the go-ahead to enter the cave. She cautiously stepped into the cave while the rest of the group waited outside, cold and wet. Some of the crew were even sneezing.

Dani released her wet hair from the low ponytail it had been confined to and raked her fingers back through it. She waited for word from Shields.

Will tapped his comm badge. "Riker to Ensign Shields," he said hopefully. He didn't know if they still had ground communication or not, but it was worth a try.

After a few seconds delay, Shields voice sounded over the comm. "Shields here, Commander," she said.

"What's it look like in there?" Will asked.