Arboretum Meet

Posted on Sat Oct 28th, 2023 @ 5:00pm by Ensign Jyl-eel Tor & Lieutenant JG Sava

Mission: Stardust and Sin
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 0800

[Arboretum]
[Morning of Arrival at the Twinfire]
[0800 hours]

"Computer open Bay 3 and set for Type III nutritional profile." The plump and pleasant Valt, Jyl-eel Tor, advanced on the bay of flowering plants and unusual botanical specimens. She held an equally strange plant in her hands: its roots appeared loose and encased in clear crystal. The rest of the plant, quite delicate, resembled something between a lotus and an artichoke flower. It was closed into a tight tulip bulb, its flesh a soft and sultry purple. The Valt settled the plant into the bay and tapped several controls. An isolating field erected, cylindrical, around the plant. Jyl-eel sighed contented, her fingers through the field touching its metals.

Sava wasn't a botanist in the slightest. She'd worked with plants excessively in her youth, yes, but only to keep them healthy, harvest them and haul them off to market to be sold. It hadn't exactly inspired her to go become a botanist or do good things like start finding food solutions for struggling colonies, it did give her a healthy appreciation for gardens that were thriving - which the Sojourner's definitely was.

"This place is beautiful. I think I might come back here somewhat more often," The Kelpien said to the young botanist she spied a little further down the road she was walking on. "You lot obviously take very good care of it,"

Jyl-eel made a sound of acknowledgement, a pleased lilt up of her voice with a nod and a rise of her earbrows. A Kelpien had entered the Arboretum some time ago as Jyl-eel was transferring this Talasian Star Lotus from its parent plant. Placidly, Tor had given her her space to enjoy the Zen of the space while she completed her work.

"Computer, shift solar-thermal setting in Bay 3 to an F4IV star. Release two parts per million of Deuterium." The light of the bay shifted to a much more bright and white light and with the slight hiss of the controls, the flower suddenly opened. Its purplish fleshy petals glistened like a prism and then glowed with a soft inner light. Jyl-eel stood back and placed her hands on her hips, quite satisfied.

"There you go Viola III. Nice and warm." She muttered to the plant lovingly. She turned to the Kelpien. "We are lucky that Starfleet allocated a small space for an Arboretum," she agreed with a blink. "The Botany department likes to showcase rare specimens every third Wednesday of the week. On every other Tuesday, we sponsor a still-life painting and drawing class."

"Viola III. That's the flower's name?" Sava bent down to look at the small purple flower. "I've never seen a plant bloom so quickly and so vibrantly before - least of all in an instant." She glanced back at the attractive young woman and smiled at her. "You name your plants? I think that's simply adorable - I'm sure you must feel much closer to them that way. Would you be so kind as to introduce me to a few others?"

"Name after her mother," Jyl-eel said with a single bob of her head. "Talasian Star Lotus grow as trimmings from a parent plant. In their natural environment, it might take hundreds of years for a plant to encounter a force enough to cause a budding. This one comes from the Omari Botanical Gardens in orbit of Delta." The Valt smiled pleasantly.

Jyl-eel sidestepped at the Kelpien's request to the nearest bay adjacent. "This is a Vulcan Mocha plant. It brews that mocha-tea they're so fond of. My instructor named this one Reval. After her Sehlat. And this," Jyl-eel stepped sideways again, "Is a Dekarpa Orchid from Tellar Prime. It's extinct on Tellar. Starfleet Science is trying to repopulate the species. Some were found on an abandoned Tellarite mining colony a few years ago." Jyl-eel placed her hands on her hips, "This one is Shingorn."

The Valt blinked her eyes.

Sava listened on, enthralled by both Jyl's explanation and, well, Jyl herself. The Valt woman might've been one of the most effortlessly beautiful people she'd ever met in her entire life, especially with those beautiful green eyes. She could've sworn for the briefest period of time the passage of time slowed to a stop as she caught sight of those beautiful green emeralds embedded in her face - at least, until she gave herself a mental slap to the face. "Oh! Well, um. Have you any samples from Kaminar?" She asked, glancing around the arboretum curiously, searching for the vibrant red of fredalia petals. Seeing them anywhere else but Kaminar was a rarity, in fact.

Jyl-eel stepped away to give the lanky Kelpien room to look over the specimens. She meanwhile crossed the workspace, peering briefly into the arch and the open square of the Arboretum. From the window the bright light and color of the Twinfire illuminated what was normally the black of space. She eyed some Hydrangea she had planted a month ago and then continued to her potted plants. "Kaminar is very protective of their ecosystem," she said gently. "They don't usually let their plants this far from home. I think one of the former Helmsman of the ship had a Fredalia plant in his quarters. I had to treat it for Blight. But he's since moved on." She squinted an eye. What was his name again. Ural, that was it.

"Fredalia plants don't often catch Blight outside of Kaminar. Odd. Perhaps that's why they aren't often allowed to leave Kaminar's surface." Sava murmured. "That much I do know. Speaking of things I know-" She smiled at the attractive young Valt. "I don't think we've introduced. Call me Sava."

"Mutant strain," Jyl-eel added for clarity. "Kaminar's ecosystem is delicate." Jyl-eel placed a hand over her heart and did a small bow, "Ensign Tor. Botanist. It's nice to meet you Sava." She said respectfully. "Please. Enjoy the arboretum," she smiled and gestured. "I'll stay out of your way. I need to replant this Tarkalean tea plant." She leaned in and smelled a rosy red plant with darker edges. Its leaves were like spades, similar to small and spongy poplar leaves. "Tarkaleans make some excellent tea." Jyl-eel blinked and looked at the Kelpien, who was much taller than her.

"Of course. See you around!" Sava smiled and walked off past the Valtese woman, deeper into the arboretum. If Jyl had work to do, so be it - she had no desire to disturb her.

A Post By:

Ensign Jyl-eel Tor

Lieutenant JG Sava