fandomhigh | Keeping Your Advantage: Terrain and You, Week VII [Monday, Period 4]

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keeping your advantage

Keeping Your Advantage: Terrain and You, Week VII [Monday, Period 4]

"Welcome to your last official class of the semester," Ghanima said as the students arrived. "Today, we're looking at a type of terrain that is near and dear to my heart: the desert."

Deserts take up about one third of the Earth's land surface, and usually have a large diurnal and seasonal temperature range, with high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures that can reach 45 °C/113 °F or higher. The dry desert air is incapable of blocking sunlight during the day or trapping heat during the night without water. Thus, during daylight most of the sun's heat reaches the ground, and as soon as the sun sets the desert cools quickly by radiating its heat into space."

"Most deserts are formed by rain shadows; mountains blocking the path of precipitation. Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes called ergs and stony surfaces called hamada surfaces compose a minority of desert surfaces. Exposures of rocky terrain are typical, and reflect minimal soil development and sparseness of vegetation."

The Danger Shop rippled around them, and the students would find themselves standing on a rocky outcropping, looking out over a landscape of sand and blinding sun. "It is unfortunate that many people equate deserts with a hostile environment that conspires against human life," Ghanima continued easily, seemingly unbothered by the change in scenery. "In the popular media, desert areas seem to be considered to be at the top of the wilderness list for danger. The historical fact is, however, that the human race was cradled in arid lands and people are well adapted to survive in deserts. Learning to be part of the desert's ecosystem, and not view it as an antagonist is the first step of desert survival. Preparation starts with how you dress. People stand upright and receive only 60% of the solar radiation that animals on all fours do. By adding a proper hat, with a wide brim and closed crown, the head and body are further protected. A common mistake made by new desert visitors is wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts. Loose fitting long sleeves and pants provide good air circulation and much better protection than sunblock."

"Deserts are defined by their lack of water. Learn to ration sweat, not water. By staying in the shade, limiting activity to cooler times such as night and using your available water, your chances for survival increase greatly. Sipping water does not get it to the brain and vital organs. Take a good drink when you need it. People have been found dead from dehydration with water in their canteens. Also, do not rely on "parlor tricks" such as solar stills as a primary source. These will often produce more sweat digging the hole than is obtained from water gained. Learn to locate water through areas of green vegetation, flights of birds, converging animal trails and digging in the outside bends of dry creek beds."

"You're probably all expecting a final," she said, looking at the students. "I hate to disappoint you, but you aren't getting one here today. Instead, go ahead and play in the sand. Try not to get bitten by scorpions, get heatstroke, or burn your hands. Learn how to walk - and run - without falling."

"Next week, for those who are interested, we'll be going on a little trip." Ghanima tilted her face towards the sun, shutting her eyes and smiling. "Anyone is welcome, and we will be going to Arrakis. Dune. Seat of the Imperium and fiefdom of House Atreides. Those of you who want to go along will get a final of a different sort, something that cannot be replicated in the Danger Shop to any degree of accuracy." She waved one hand, and another hologram shimmered into being.

"You will ride the worms," she said simply, walking over to one of the rising behemoths and placing her hand against its side. "They say that God created Arrakis to train the faithful. In truth, I think he made it for Shai-Hulud to roam. Nowhere else in the Known Universe will you find these beautiful creatures; they are the life and breath of this planet, and the primary mode of distance transportation for the wandering tribes of Fremen. That does not, however, mean they are tame."

"The sign-up sheet will be on the door of my office until next Monday." Another wave of her hand, and the worms vanished as she turned back to them. "Now go play, and no throwing snakes at each other."

[OCD up]

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... Puppy eyes were really, really hard to say no to! That was like cheating or something!

"Maybe just once," Zack decided, laughing and hopping to his feet.

He then proceeded to do the most heartfelt chocobo stomp he'd ever done, complete with the jump-flip-kick combo at the end. And a bow. And a Kweh!

Because he could.

Edited 2009-06-23 00:26 (UTC)

Dinah was both amazed and highly amused, and chortled, "Again!" Then tried to to the part that didn't have an hugely high jump-kick-kweh at the end.

They had to look pretty weird up there, jumping around on the back of a giant sandworm.

Zack laughed and stepped up beside her, joining her in the strut portion of the stomp.

"How many more times do you want me to do that jump?"

Really, he would do it as many times as he was asked to. Zack was a terrible, terrible showoff.

"At least two more?" Dinah wheedled hopefully. "Maybe? Then we can go look at the top of the head and all."

Jump jump strut stomp!

The wheedling wasn't for nothing, and Zack was all too happy to demonstrate his spectacular chocobo stomping skills, the second of which ended in a running jump that really only meant that he could slip a few extra flips in there for show.

And then he was putting his hands on his hips and posing and grinning.

"To the top?" He peered upward again. "We have a long climb ahead of us, yet!"

The posing never got old, really.

"To the top!" Dinah ran to catch up to him, and took a breath, and said, "Slow and steady. It is a desert. Right?"

"Slow and steady," Zack agreed, nodding his agreement. Not necessarily because he really had to pace himself, but it was probably a good idea not to push it, even in a simulation, if he had Dinah tagging along.

~~Zack was such a freaking GaryStu.~~

~~But an adorable one.~~

They headed for the top, the heat of the desert not too overwhelming yet, and Dinah marveled again at the sheer size of the thing. She'd compared it to a mall-size, or airport-size thing once; it was even more impressive, fifty or sixty feet up. And then higher. And higher.

They finally approached the top of the -- head? mouth?-- and Dinah topped to look around. "Sheeeesh."

"Long way down," Zack noted, letting go with one hand so that he could twist about and get a better looksee. "Amazing view!"

Worry about falling? Zack? Hah, never! He jumped out of helicopters onto moving trains for training. ~~Thus making him an even bigger GaryStu.~~

"And we're nearly there!"

Dinah was now wondering, morbidly, about the Danger Shop protocols, and how much would it hurt to land in soft sand, and hmm, maybe it would catch him? Or her, if she fell? She clung to the back of the sandworm, eyes huge, and said, "It is. It really is... I wish we had some rope, though." She gulped, and imitated Zack, letting go with one hand. "Whooooooa."

"Careful, there," Zack said, looking at her with a wary kind of smile on his lips. "If you fall, I'm going to have to dive after you, you know."

He really had no idea what kind of protocols were in place for a drop like that. But he did know that if he took a fall like that in the SOLDIER training room, which ran on similar technology, it would feel the same way that it would in real life, so it was a risk he really didn't think he wanted Dinah to be taking.

Do as I say, not as I do? Oh, Zack.

"I'm not scared," Dinah tried to protest, even as she re-established her grip. "Well. Only, you know. As scared as is sane."

"I think there's a difference between scared and careful," Zack pointed out, and then he began climbing again. Not far, yet! And then they could poke at those teeth or just enjoy the view, or whatever it was that people did when they were sitting on the heads of giant frozen sandworms.

The view, when they got there, was spectacular; rolling gold-red dunes going in every direction. Some of the sand seemed to glitter in the sunlight, with violet undertones; and the hazy gold of the air made it seem like you could be standing on the sun. Dinah gripped hard to the top of the Sandworm, and looked over at Zack. "I'm game if you are," she said, pointing downward to the maw. Maybe they could get a tooth!

(Considering the teeth were as tall as Dinah, probably not.)

"You really have to ask?"

Oh, Zack was so game. And already leaning over, trying to figure out the best way to get in there without taking an unexpected plummet. Not that he wouldn't survive a fall like that, but it probably wouldn't be any fun. And then he'd have to make the climb all over again.

He settled for turning around, getting on his hands and knees, and trying to drop into the creature's mouth feet-first.

"Ohhhh boy," Dinah said, at first afraid to look, and then she had to look, or how was she going to see how she'd do it too? She got into a position, and looked over at Zack, gulping.

Two-hundred foot drops would be ouchie.

Well, they'd be mildly uncomfortable, at least.

Zack would totally hold up to his word and jump down after her if she fell. Because he was possibly insane. Or because he was possibly the product of far too much genetic tweaking. Or maybe both.

"Want me to swing in there first, and that way I can help guide you in?"

Yes, into the gaping maw of a gigantic worm. This was a brilliant plan that could not go wrong in any foreseeable manner.

"Please?" Dinah said, looking hopeful. "I'd do it with you if I had a rope!"

Of course not. It's not like this plan had any flaws in it, right?

This was kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The kind of opportunity that had Zack swinging into the huge creature's mouth, standing up carefully around the rows upon rows of teeth, and staring around in awe.

"Whoa. Glad this thing isn't real," he decided, turning around to face Dinah's toes. "Okay, I'm here! You can swing in, now!"

Gulp. Eeek! Aaaaand--- swing the legs in, and then Dinah's fingers started to slide. "Eeeee---!"

Zack's brain registered the thought, 'Wow, Dinah has one heck of a set of lungs,' at about the same time his legs registered that they had to be moving forward right now, and his arms realized that it was a great time to be reaching forward to catch that which was slipping. Because, wow, most people were not made to fall that far. Ever. Probably not even in simulations. Maybe?

Either way, Zack was moving like hell on wheels to catch Dinah. Because that kind of plummet would suck. And anyhow, she had to see this. This was awesome.

Ghanima had been... not ignoring Zack and Dinah's little adventure, but trying not to see it. Exploration was good for the young soul, and this way they wouldn't try anything too stupid (hopefully) once they were on Dune.

"If you two fall, I am authorizing the clinic to use instruments that have been kept in the freezer during your check-ups, and you do not get lollies when you're set free," she threatened. "That is not a jungle-gym."

Dinah-- mostly heard this. Especially the part about the lollies and lack of same. So she dug in her fingers, and tried not to shriek any more. Mostly. "Okaaaaay!" she called back, and then Zack got her legs, yay!

Which allowed Dinah to correct enough to fall and roll into the mouth of the Sandworm, probably inevitably over Zack. "Ooof."

[*dies of laff*]

"Ooof!"

Yes, Zack was in total agreement of the 'oof' part, there, and it took him a moment to realize that he'd been bowled over before he could actually pull himself back out from under Dinah again, laugh, and then crawl over to the edge of the worm's mouth.

Yes, he was totally waving down at Ghanima. Why?

"We're fine, thanks!"

He had the situation totally under control. Honest.

Edited 2009-06-23 02:17 (UTC)

"We're good, Professor!" Dinah called, crawling over to stick an arm between teeth and wave it next to him. "Really!" Then she looked around, torn between wrinkling her nose at the smell and wetness, and being totally gleeful. "Look at it!"

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