Jack's Snow Day

Ghen and Asha were grinning widely at Jack as his love for his daughters came through quite clearly.

They moved back to talking about some of the jobs he'd had and the conversation went on for some time until Jack yawned widely behind his hand.

Asha glanced at her husband who wrapped up the broadcast and thanked Jack for his time before shutting down the radio program.

Jack was surprised to realize everyone from the dinner hour was still in the restaurant. He smiled and nodded to them as they began to file out.

"I'm going to speak to Minister Julli about your idea. Do you think skis could be adapted to Shreen feet?" Ghen asked.

Jack glanced over to look at the feet of some of the departing guests and pictured how wide the skis would have to be to fit those big... he grinned widely.

"You have a strange smile on your face, Jack." Asha said, smiling curiously.

"Not skis! Snowboards! Oh my god! The Shreen would be natural snowboarders!" he exclaimed.

He pulled his com out and flipped through the vids he'd captured to show Queen Elissa. He scanned ahead in the one to get to the snowboarding scene. Then he turned the screen to the mayor and his wife. "This is snowboarding. Much wider surface but similar principle. You ride these down the slope but you still need a means to get back to the top of the slope once you get to the bottom."

They watched in fascination as the boarders swooshed back and forth, cutting through the powder snow.

"This looks like something the Shreen would like to do! Very much! Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Are there more movies like these?" Ghen asked.

"Yes, on the Earth network. Can you connect to that?" he asked.

"Minister Julli will be able to. Snowboarding. I think we may have something here!" Ghen said excitedly.

Jack looked at his com and pulled up the receipt for his ski equipment. "Do you have a com?" he asked the mayor. The male took his com from a pocket in his kilt. "I have a company you can contact to purchase a few boards from as a test case. Really nice people and they had some really beautiful boards in the shop when I was there." Jack transferred the details of the shop to the mayor's com and the Shreen's eyebrows went up.

"I didn't know you could do that with a com!" Ghen exclaimed and his wife rolled her eyes.

Jack grinned and dropped the vid onto the mayor's com as well. "You can send Julli this vid and the store's details to let her know you want her to look into it for you."

"How do I do that?" Ghen asked looking closer.

"Really Ghen! You need to get lessons on how to use your com!" Asha said in exasperation as she took the com from Jack's hand and created the message with the attachments. Then she pointed to the send button and Ghen sent it off with a grin. The mayor rubbed his face against his wife's and she gasped at his boldness in front of their guest.

"I'm beat so I'm going back to my room. Will I see you for breakfast tomorrow or afterwards?" Jack asked.

"If you wouldn't mind the company we'd love to join you!" Ghen said as Asha nodded with a smile.

"8AM?" Jack suggested.

"Perfect!" Ghen said and they touched foreheads before they headed out.

Jack walked over to Gee and Bal and they looked lethargic from the heat. "Come on you two, time for bed."

The agents got to their hooves and wobbled. Both sank back to their seats as Jack frowned at them.

"You overheated didn't you." Jack scowled and the agents had the good grace to look ashamed.

"Put your coats on. I'll carry you," Jack said and they looked up at him in surprise. They began to protest and stood but they weren't steady on their hooves. He helped them put their coats on then surprised them by bending down to wrap an arm around each just below their butts and lifting them against his chest.

"Hold on around my shoulders," Jack grunted and began to head back to the room. He got them in the elevator, up to their floor and down the hall to their room before setting them back on their hooves once more. He opened the door and helped them stagger inside. He took them immediately to the bed. As they undressed he got them both a large glass of water. He made them drink all of the water then he tucked them into the bed.

Then he took care of himself, getting ready for bed. He crawled under the blankets and felt them rest against his shoulders as he let himself drift off.

Chapter 8

Jack sat at his reserved table waiting for Ghen and Asha. He'd left Gee and Bal back in the room resting. They'd woken with bad headaches and he'd made them drink more water. While they protested he assured them he would only visit the farms then come directly back to check on them. Pouting, they agreed he could be without their protection for the morning. He'd smiled and given them both a kiss on the forehead. Jack thought it was a testament to how poorly Bal felt that she'd held still for the kiss. He tucked them back in bed and left them his Skrahak overcoat as an extra blanket so he'd be sure they'd be warm enough. He was wearing the thermal guard wicking bodysuit and the Nordic racing outerwear so he was plenty warm.

Sure, he looked like a rainbow threw up on him but he was warm.

"Good morning!" Ghen called out as he and Asha walked up to the table.

Jack got up and touched his forehead to theirs and gestured for them to sit. A new waitress was immediately at their side and they ordered their breakfast. Jack was able to order a small steak with his meal.

"Where are your companions?" Asha asked curiously.

"They aren't feeling too well this morning so I told them to sleep in," Jack said.

Ghen didn't turn on the broadcast system and they just spoke about the morning's tour. Then he made an odd sound.

"I just remembered! I got a reply from Julli this morning. She was very excited about the idea of bringing snowboarding to the ridge villages and will be starting a program with Boon Falls as a test case. She sent a request to our broker on Altaria to order some boards from the shop you gave us the name for. I hope you don't mind she quoted your name on the order," Ghen said with an excited expression.

Jack was really happy for Ghen but he was also concerned about how fast this was coming together. "That's great! Are you going to set up some designated areas for the snowboarding? The boards move really fast so there's always a risk for injury or worse."

"Yes, I've been researching how to build a snowboarding park from the material Julli got from the Earth Net. Fascinating! You were right, this sport was designed for Chrystan and the Shreen!" Ghen gushed.

Jack grinned at him as the food arrived. They didn't talk much as they ate the meal but they were very comfortable in each other's company.

As they were wrapping up Asha grinned at Jack. "Your clothing is most colorful this morning."

"Yes, it's a Nordic skiing racing suit. Normally I wouldn't dress so flamboyantly but it was the only suit in the store that stretched enough to fit my neck and shoulders. It's very warm!"

"We aren't going to lose you in the snow or a crowd of Shreen for that matter," Ghen teased.

They were done so they thanked the waitress and made their way back to the village. Jack attracted a lot of attention as a walking billboard for brands the inhabitants of Chrystan had never heard of.

They entered a wide corridor which led deep into the mountain. They boarded a small wheeled cart and Ghen drove them further into the tunnels. He took them down a few ramps and Jack felt a gradual increase in temperature and humidity. The scent of growing things filled his nostrils and he breathed deep with a smile. Ghen pulled off a ramp onto the next floor down and Jack gasped in awe. The excavated chamber seemed endless with row after row of vertical hanging gardens. The colors were spectacular.

"You may not lose me in the snow but I could definitely blend in down here!" Jack laughed and they joined in.

They parked the cart and walked among the rows talking to the workers who were maintaining the crops. Jack had to touch foreheads with quite a few of them and learned they were listening to the broadcast the night before. Most were amazed by how different he was from how he looked in their imaginations. They sampled a few fresh vegetables and made their way back to the cart.

They spent most of the morning repeating this and Jack was stunned by the variety of crops they had down here fed by the hot springs and grow lights powered by the village's steam driven generators. Jack discovered they shipped the produce to Elleltris and other cities with unmanned trains using gravity repulsion tech. None of the Shreen would ride in the flying vehicles but they had no problem with their products travelling in style and fast. The shipments only took an hour to reach market instead of taking all day like his trip had.

Once the tour was over they drove back up to the entrance of the village. Jack's head was spinning and his hosts were grinning from ear to ear, pleased with his reaction.

"Did you have any plans for the afternoon?" Ghen asked.

"I was hoping to do some skiing in the surrounding countryside," he said.

The mayor winced. "That might not be such a good idea until we've caught the bull Skrahak. I assure you I've had reports that they are very close to tracking it down. Maybe I can offer an alternative. Why don't you come up on the surface to see the original Boon Falls?"

"That sounds good! I need to check in on my two patients in the room." He lifted the small basket of fresh vegetables he'd collected for them. "They'll need some lunch too. Why don't I give you a call after lunch and if they are up to it I'll bring them along?"

"That would be great! See you then!" Ghen said and they did the forehead ritual once more before Jack trotted back down the corridor to the hotel. He nodded to Mara and took the elevator up to his floor. Grinning to himself he thought about mentioning elevator music to Mara to see if that would catch on like snowboarding promised to.

Entering the room he made his way over to the bedroom and saw the sheets move. Gee and Bal uncovered their heads and stared at his outfit.

"Tell me you didn't go out in public dressed like that!" Gee griped.

"Ah, good to hear you're back to your old self," Jack smiled.

"I smell food," Bal added.

"The gardens! Oh my god, they are magnificent and endless! I brought you lunch straight from the vine." Jack gushed.

When Gee looked at him with a raised eyebrow he sighed. "Yes I washed the food and the basket is brand new."

The two agents each picked something from the basket and took a bite. Their faces lit up with smiles and they ate voraciously. Jack snorted at the almost savage way they consumed the meal. By comparison his consuming the steak had been an act of absolute civility.

"The mayor and Asha have invited us to do a tour of the original Boon Falls which is apparently on the surface. It will be cold so if you aren't up to it I understand. He vetoed my suggestion about skiing as they have to catch and kill a bull Skrahak as it's dangerous to be around."

"We will come with you to see this original village," Gee said.

"As you are not skiing please change into clothing less violent to our eyes," Bal requested.

Jack pouted and went to get changed after snagging one of the cucumber like items from the basket and dodging Bal's slap at his hand.

When everyone was ready and Jack was back in his fur coat he called the mayor and arranged to meet where Jack last saw them.

They made their way back to the village and once they greeted Ghen and Asha once more they took an elevator up a few levels and stepped out into a large transparent dome. There was a set of doors ahead, like an airlock which Jack assumed kept the cold air out of the dome. He looked at Gee and Bal but they were wearing every layer of thermal protection they had under the fur coats. They seemed comfortable.

"It isn't too cold out there but we are in the shadow of the ridge above so the warmth of the sun isn't touching the ground here," Asha warned.

They made their way outside and Jack moved his goggles down over his eyes. While they weren't in direct sunlight the snow just a little ways down the hill was bouncing the brightness in their direction.

They walked uphill and saw the original excavations dug into the surrounding cliff face. These had been turned into boutiques and Jack was delighted to do a little browsing in the shops. The Altarians also appreciated being inside. Ghen and Asha spoke to each of the shopkeepers as they made their way from shop to shop. Jack was carrying several bags by the time they left the eighth shop.

Jett came running from further ahead panting with excitement. "Mayor! They got it!" he yelled.

Ghen stopped to look at Jett. "They got the bull?"

"Yes! Come see! It's a big one!" the youth gushed and headed back down the lane. It ran between two vertical cliff faces which gradually drew closer. Shops had been cut into the walls on both sides. Jack couldn't help but compare this to one of those villages catering to the upscale skiing community.

Ahead there was a large archway and a tunnel which they followed out into a field where many Shreen were gathered around a large flatbed cart. Covering the cart was a creature with the same kind of fur Jack and the Altarians were wearing.

The thing looked like a large furred slug to Jack. Except for its face... or the collection of boney plates where the face would be.

"It is a big one! Definitely a bull. Looks like we shouldn't be having trouble with the Skrahak for a while." Ghen said with a grin. He wandered off to congratulate the five Ridgers who brought down the beast.

Jack turned to Asha. "Does this mean it's safe to do some skiing tomorrow?"

"It should be. Once the bull is dead the rest scatter uphill back into the mountains," she explained.

"Uphill? This beast came from higher up?" Jack said in surprise.

"Yes, there are some big things up there. We stay out of the peaks. If they come down we kill them." Asha said with venom in her voice.

Jack blinked at her. "You sound like you really don't like these creatures."

She looked at Jack and sighed. "No, I don't. A larger one than this took my grandfather and his best friend. It went back up into the mountains so we never killed it. I take a little comfort each time we kill one. Seeing you eat the flesh of one was particularly satisfying," she said with a grim smile.

He just nodded to her. He knew how the need for vengeance felt. He wouldn't judge her for this.

They made their way back and stopped at a few more shops before calling it a day. They walked back to the dome and stopped to make plans for dinner.

"Are we going to do another dinner broadcast?" Jack asked.

Ghen's expression gave away his hopes and Jack just smiled and nodded. Asha was pretty happy as well.

"Tomorrow, I'd like to go skiing. That should be ok now, right?" Jack asked.

Ghen checked his com. "The danger of the Skrahak is over but I suggest you head out no earlier than 11AM as it will be warmer and the small stragglers will be long gone by then."

"That sounds good. As it will be my first time on the skis in a long time I don't plan on being out too long," Jack explained. Ghen nodded.

They made their way into the elevator and went back down to the new village's main level.

Before they parted Ghen caught Jack's eye again. "See you at dinner?"

"Yes!" Jack grinned and they went their separate ways.

As they made their way back to the resort Jack was so excited! He was going skiing! When he started to repetitively chant 'We're go-ing ski-ing!' he saw Gee and Bal weren't quite as enthused.

Well, they could stay home. He was going! It was his vacation after all!

Chapter 9

The powdery snow sparkled like scattered diamonds under the noon sun as Jack's skis cut through the frozen crystals. He found himself grinning stupidly as his breath puffed out in gusts of steam. This was much better than he remembered.

Of course the technology in use now compared to the last time he'd gone skiing improved the performance of the skis by light years. The bindings were small plates that used tractor beam technology to maintain an aligned connection with the linkage in the toe of his shoes. This allowed his shoes to rock up and down as his heels lifted and dropped with the stride and glide motions. The skis didn't rely on special waxes or rough scallops in the underside to give them the traction and frictionless qualities needed to kick off and glide. Instead, the binding read the pressure and position of each boot and took signals from the grips on the poles to alter the underside qualities of each ski. This also gave the skier the ability to brake if needed.

Jack, Gee and Bal had spent roughly an hour learning how to operate the controls of the skis until they felt comfortable enough to venture outside of the village into the hillsides nearby. Now they were moving quickly through pristine hills and meadows. The 'evergreens' they saw dotting the hillsides and providing windbreaks on their way looked like no tree Jack had ever seen but they served the same function apparently.

They'd been given a quick overview of the surrounding land and told which areas to avoid. There were a few places where hidden cliffs could end their playtime with a grisly conclusion. Keeping to the meadows was safe. They'd seen groups of teens out placing and maintaining the red hazard flags at the entrances to these danger zones. A service each village undertook to keep their people safe.

Jack stopped atop a small rise, set his brakes, and looked back. Gee and Bal were a distance back but they caught up quickly. Both enjoyed the skiing very much but they scowled at him for getting so far ahead. He ignored that.

"This is incredible!" Jack gushed.

Neither of them could deny the smiles that came to their faces for his enthusiasm.

"Yes, this is a most enjoyable activity," Gee admitted. Bal nodded at her partner.

"Maybe we stay out another thirty minutes then begin to head back?" Jack asked and received nods.

A terrifyingly deep roar cut across the hillside from behind them. This was quickly followed by the high pitched screams of teenage Shreen. They turned their skis immediately and headed back along their tracks as quickly as they could. Jack was behind the agents so he was forced to keep their pace.

They came upon one of the red flagged pocket valleys where the slope dipped down between two cliff walls and ended with a precipice. More screams and crying came from down the slope.

Bal looked back at Jack. "Stay here!" Then she and Gee went over the lip and swooped down into the shadowed place.

Jack stayed put for a record five seconds before he said fuck it and swooped over the edge. He got maybe five metres in before stopping atop the slope running down to a sharp drop off. Down near the bottom Jack could see two young Shreen backed up against the wall of the pocket valley, clinging to each other in mortal fear.

What was driving their fear was mostly hidden in the snow but to Jack it looked like a Skrahak, at least as big as the one he'd seen on that flatbed cart. The only thing keeping it from the kids was Gee and Bal putting shot after shot into its back from behind with their deadly little pistols. Unfortunately, the creature's bulk reduced the effectiveness of the bullets to merely painful annoyances.

It finally turned slowly to face the source of the pain. Gee... disappeared, though her skis and poles remained and seemed to move on their own up slope as Bal continued to pepper the Skrahak's side with bullets.

Once the creature was facing Bal, Gee dropped her camo and gestured for the teens to run towards her. She pushed them to keep going upslope once they reached her.